Jennifer Lawrence Finally Confirms Katniss Is Back for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’
It’s been more than a decade since Jennifer Lawrence last picked up Katniss Everdeen’s bow. The actor’s final outing as the Mockingjay came in 2015’s ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2’, which closed with Katniss and Peeta living quietly with their children after the war.
Rumors of a return started swirling in December 2025, when reports first surfaced that Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson would reprise their roles in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Lionsgate stayed tight-lipped, and the nature of their appearance has been kept firmly under wraps ever since.
Now Lawrence has confirmed the news herself. During her appearance on Alex Cooper’s ‘Call Her Daddy‘ podcast, she was asked about returning for the prequel and described the experience as unbelievable.
She explained that stepping back into Panem felt surreal because so much of the original team was there, from the same crew and camera operators to the same assistant director she had worked with countless times. Lawrence said being back with Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson was deeply emotional.
She also shared a sweet detail about her on-screen partner, revealing that she and Hutcherson were practically inseparable on set, walking everywhere with their arms around each other. True to form, she joked that Harrelson climbed through her hotel room window uninvited, adding that it wouldn’t have felt the same without him.
Jennifer Lawrence confirms she will return as Katniss in ‘THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING’. “It was the same crew. And with Josh and Woody… it was so emotional. Josh and I didn’t walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other.” (Source: @callherdaddy) https://t.co/NZTx93ZLNJ
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 28, 2026
Fans may be wondering how Katniss and Peeta could appear in a story set long before they were born. ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ takes place 24 years before the original ‘The Hunger Games’, following a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games.
That year’s Games are the Second Quarter Quell, when the Capitol doubles the number of tributes from every district. However, Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel ends with a flash-forward epilogue featuring Katniss and Peeta alongside Haymitch, which is widely expected to be where Lawrence and Hutcherson come in.
The countdown begins. #TheHungerGames: Sunrise on the Reaping – only in theaters & IMAX November 20. https://t.co/XnEDz5oyET
— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) October 20, 2026
Harrelson’s involvement had also been hinted at well before Lawrence’s comments. Fans noticed what sounded like his voiceover at the end of the film’s teaser, fueling speculation that the older Haymitch would return too.
Beyond the returning favorites, the prequel boasts an impressive ensemble. Ralph Fiennes plays President Snow, Jesse Plemons is Plutarch Heavensbee, and Elle Fanning steps in as Effie Trinket.
“Let the 50th Hunger Games begin.” The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters & IMAX November 20, 2026. https://t.co/QrViO2Ss1t
— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) November 20, 2025
The cast also includes Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags, and Glenn Close. Filming took place between July and November 2025 across locations in Spain and Germany.
Francis Lawrence, who has directed every installment since 2013’s ‘Catching Fire’, returns to helm the film from a screenplay by Billy Ray. Producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are also back, continuing a franchise that has earned more than $3.3 billion at the box office across its first 5 films.
The soundtrack arrives on November 13, with Noah Kahan’s ‘Draw You Out’ already released as an early single. Meanwhile, interest in the original series is surging, with ‘The Hunger Games’ trending on streaming as fans revisit Panem ahead of the new release.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ opens in theaters and IMAX on November 20. Rated PG-13, the film runs roughly 2 and a half hours. Lawrence’s ‘Call Her Daddy’ appearance had other surprises too, including her confession that she has always been Team Gale. But for most fans, the confirmation that Katniss and Peeta are coming home to the big screen is the real headline.
What are you most excited to see in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping?
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