Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will return for the Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
Lawrence, 35, and Hutcherson, 33, will appear in the upcoming prequel film. multiple outlets reported on Wednesday, December 10. The pair will reprise their roles of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, respectively, during a flash forward epilogue.
No official details about their roles have been confirmed. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news.
Sunrise on The Reaping is the second prequel novel in Suzanne Collins‘ Hunger Games universe. The novel, which dropped in March, is the origin story for Woody Harrelson’s character Haymitch and recounts how he became the winner of the second Quarter Quell. While the majority of the book takes place before Haymitch mentors Katniss and Peeta for their games, the pair make an appearance toward the end of the film.
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Us Weekly has reached out to Lionsgate, Lawrence and Hutcherson for comment.
Hutcherson shared earlier this year that he would be interested in returning to the Hunger Games franchise if the opportunity arose.
“I would love to be back on set with Francis, with Jen, with Liam [Hemsworth], with Woody,” he told Variety in November. “It would not take any convincing at all. I’d be there in a heartbeat.”
Lawrence, for her part, also expressed similar sentiments.
“If Katniss ever could ever come back into my life, 100 percent,” the actress told Variety in a June 2023 interview.
Shortly after the book’s release, news broke that Sunrise on the Reaping would get the film treatment. Joseph Zada was cast as the younger version of Haymitch.
“It’s a very big, important character, and they needed to get it right. So obviously, they put me through the wringer a bit,” Zada, 20, told Vanity Fair in June about portraying the fan favorite character. “I’m glad they did because I learned so much in that period of time. Now, I’m just so excited to know that I’m going to be in safe hands.”
Zada also shared that he received a “nice little message” from Harrelson following his casting.
“[It was] from Woody’s niece, I think. He doesn’t have a phone,” Zada told the outlet. “I’m sure I’ll speak to him eventually, but apparently he’s very happy for me.”
In addition to Zada, Sunrise on the Reaping stars Elle Fanning as the younger version of Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee (originated by Philip Seymour Hoffman), Maya Hawke as Wiress (Amands Plummer), Ralph Fiennes as President Snow (played by Donald Sutherland in the original trilogy and Tom Blyth in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) and more.
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McKenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Glenn Close, Billy Porter and more will play new characters.
Last month, Hunger Games fans got a sneak peek at the new movie in the first official trailer.
“Welcome, Panem, to the glorious reaping of District 12,” a Capitol announcer said in the clip. “Twice the number of tributes, twice the glory. It’s time for the second Quarter Quell. Let the 50th Hunger Games begin!”
The clip panned to Haymitch and the rest of the tributes as they prepared to face off in the deadly Hunger Games arena.
