Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are expected to reprise their iconic roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in Lionsgate’s upcoming prequel The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
The film, based on Suzanne Collins’ latest novel, will take viewers back to the 50th Hunger Games, 24 years before Katniss and Peeta first stepped into the arena. The story follows a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy during his own experience, with Joseph Zada playing the younger version of the character portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original franchise. While details of Lawrence and Hutcherson’s appearances are being kept secret, the book’s epilogue suggests their roles likely involve a flash-forward.
Francis Lawrence returns to direct from a script by Billy Ray, alongside producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson. Sunrise on the Reaping is set to hit theaters on November 20. The franchise has already earned more than $3.3 billion at the box office.
In a recent interview with Variety, Hutcherson teased his willingness to return, saying, “I would love to be back on set with Francis, with Jen, with Liam, with Woody [Harrelson]. It would not take any convincing at all. I’d be there in a heartbeat.”
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping‘s ensemble cast also includes Elle Fanning as young Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Kieran Culkin as the TV host Caesar Flickerman, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, alongside Kelvin Harrison Jr., Glenn Close, Maya Hawke, Mckenna Grace, Billy Porter, Whitney Peak, Ben Wang, and more.
Lionsgate declined to comment. Their involvement was first reported by The Insneider.
