LOS ANGELES, October 30, 2026 — More than a decade after the original The Hunger Games films brought them together on screen, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson are reuniting for another journey into Panem — and the experience has been an emotional one for the Oscar-winning actress.
Lawrence has confirmed that she is reprising her iconic role as Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, alongside Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark and Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy.
Speaking on the October 28 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Lawrence described returning to the franchise as an unforgettable experience, particularly because she was reunited with familiar cast members and crew.
“It was unbelievable. It was so crazy,” she said, recalling how much of the original production team was involved again.
But it was seeing her former co-stars that made the reunion especially meaningful.
Jennifer Lawrence Says Reuniting With Josh Hutcherson Was Emotional
Lawrence revealed that working alongside Hutcherson again brought back memories of their years filming the original franchise.
She described how close the two had become during production, joking that they were rarely apart while working together.
“Josh and I didn’t walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other,” she said.
The actress also shared a humorous story about Harrelson’s unexpected appearance at her hotel room.
According to Lawrence, the actor came through her hotel window uninvited — a moment she joked was entirely in character for him.
“It wouldn’t be the same if he listened to boundaries or used a door,” she said.
Her comments offer a glimpse into the personal relationships behind one of the most recognisable young-adult film franchises of the 2010s. AsiaOne+2
Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch Return After 11 Years
The reunion marks Lawrence’s first return as Katniss since The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, released in 2015.
Hutcherson is also returning as Peeta, while Harrelson reprises his role as Haymitch, the former Hunger Games victor who became a mentor to Katniss and Peeta.
The three characters were central to the original four-film series, which followed Katniss as she became a symbol of resistance against the authoritarian Capitol.
Their appearance in Sunrise on the Reaping is particularly notable because the new movie is primarily a prequel, with its main story taking place decades before Katniss and Peeta’s original journey.
The confirmation also puts an end to months of speculation about whether the original stars would appear in the new instalment. Us+2
What Is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping About?
The upcoming film adapts Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name and focuses on a younger Haymitch Abernathy during the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Set 24 years before the events of the original The Hunger Games, the story follows Haymitch as he becomes one of the tributes forced to compete in the Capitol’s deadly competition.
Actor Joseph Zada plays the younger version of Haymitch, while McKenna Grace appears as Maysilee Donner.
The Second Quarter Quell is especially significant because the Capitol sends twice the usual number of tributes into the arena.
The film’s main cast also includes Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Elle Fanning as a younger Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Glenn Close, Jesse Plemons and Maya Hawke.
The novel’s epilogue features Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch, providing a narrative connection that helps explain the original actors’ return to the story. Lionsgate+2
A Franchise That Has Earned More Than US$3.3 Billion
The reunion is another major moment for a franchise that has become one of Lionsgate’s most commercially successful film properties.
According to Lionsgate, the five previously released Hunger Games movies have generated more than US$3.3 billion in worldwide theatrical box-office revenue.
The franchise began with the 2012 film starring Lawrence, Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Its original storyline concluded with Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015.
The series later expanded with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, released in 2023, which explored the earlier life of Coriolanus Snow.
Now, Sunrise on the Reaping is bringing audiences back to Panem while introducing a new generation of actors to the franchise. Lionsgate+1
When Will the New Hunger Games Movie Be Released?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on November 20, 2026.
Francis Lawrence, who directed several previous instalments, returns to direct the new film.
For longtime fans, the biggest attraction may not simply be the story of a younger Haymitch, but the opportunity to see Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch together again.
Lawrence’s emotional recollection suggests that the reunion meant just as much to the actors as it could to audiences who followed their characters from the beginning.
After 11 years away from the franchise, the original trio is returning — but their appearance in a story centred on Haymitch’s past could reveal a new chapter in Panem’s history.
Will their reunion be a brief connection to the original films, or will Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch have a bigger role than fans expect?
