Exciting news for fans of The Hunger Games franchise today as various sources – including Deadline – have confirmed that OG stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are returning to the franchise. News of their return comes hot on the heels of last month’s debut trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise of the Reaping, due to release in cinemas on November 20, 2026.
The news will come as no surprise to fans of Suzanne Collins’ books. Sunrise on the Reaping features a scene where a grown Peeta (Hutcherson) and Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) listen to Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson in the original movies) as he recounts the story of his time in the second Quarter Quell. No word yet on whether Harrelson will also return but it is expected due to the nature of the scene.
Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem and follows young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Cameron MacConomy will executive produce. The five films in the franchise have taken in over $3.3 billion at the box office.
Sunrise on the Reaping sold 1.5 million copies in its first week on sale in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. are twice the first week sales of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and three times the first week sales of Mockingjay.
The film also stars Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
