Josh Hutcherson Addresses Jennifer Lawrence Reunion In Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping

Published Aug 30, 2026, 1:59 PM EDT Matthew Rudoy is one of ScreenRant's Movie & TV News Editors. He covers the latest in movie & TV news, with a focus on major franchises like Star Wars, The Boys, and Game of Thrones, and also writes some features and reviews. He wrote lists for ScreenRant from 2017-2022, became a news writer in 2023, a senior staff writer in 2024, and an editor in 2025. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is poised to feature the ultimate reunion. Last December, it was reported that Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence would be reprising their respective roles as Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen for the upcoming film. Unlike other members of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping cast, though, they have not been shown or mentioned in any of the official marketing, suggesting that it may not have been the intention for their appearances to be confirmed ahead of the November 20 theatrical release. While speaking with Refinery29, Hutcherson clarified that he is "allegedly returning. It has not been confirmed." He was then asked how it would "allegedly" feel if he was in the movie and got to reunite with Lawrence. The actor replied that "allegedly, it would be amazing," went on to describe how close he and the original cast became after filming for around four years, that working with them again would be exciting, and he is excited for fans to see Sunrise on the Reaping. Check out the video below: Hutcherson's response further indicates that his return, along with that of Lawrence, was supposed to remain under wraps, and those involved in the making of the movie will not be publicly confirming it before the November 20 release. Some of the Instagram comments compare the situation to Andrew Garfield having to deny that he was in Spider-Man: No Way Home, even after everyone seemed to know that he would be in it. For those who have read the latest Hunger Games book, Hutcherson and Lawrence returning isn't too surprising, since their characters do appear in the novel in an important, but limited capacity. This explains why their roles have not been featured in the marketing, despite the anticipation it would create and the information already having reached the public last year. Based on what happens in the book, it is also highly likely that another actor from the original movies will be joining them. Sunrise on the Reaping is set to be the first time that Hutcherson and Lawrence have played Peeta and Katniss since The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 was released in 2015. Another movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, came out in 2023, but their characters do not appear, nor are they in the source material. With the newest movie taking place 24 years before the first book and film, all other established and confirmed characters have been recast, now featuring Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Maya Hawke as Maggs, Lili Taylor as Mags, and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman. This makes it even more significant that Hutcherson and Lawrence are back, without their characters being recast. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is directed by Francis Lawrence, who has helmed all The Hunger Games movies since Catching Fire. Other cast members include Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, and Billy Porter as Magno Stift. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping releases in theaters on November 20. Release Date November 20, 2026 Director Francis Lawrence Writers Billy Ray, Michael Lesslie, Suzanne Collins Cast Joseph Zada Haymitch Abernathy Whitney Peak Lenore Dove Baird