Jennifer Lawrence hints at Katniss appearance in Hunger Games prequel

Movieweb reports Jennifer Lawrence has teased a possible return as Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming prequel The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, saying on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, "Maybe. Maybe we already have," and reacting to online speculation, "Oh, yeah, it is out on the internet, isn't it?"

Lionsgate says the film revisits Panem 24 years before the original story, beginning on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell. The source notes Katniss appears in Suzanne Collins' Sunrise on the Reaping novel, and Lawrence's comments follow earlier remarks to Variety in 2023 when she said, "Oh, my God – totally! If Katniss ever could ever come back into my life, 100 percent." The article also describes Lawrence's possible return as coming after a ten-year absence.

Producer Nina Jacobson has previously said that any further Katniss stories would depend on Collins having more to write, telling Yahoo! Entertainment that she believes the character's story is complete unless Collins decides otherwise. Actor Josh Hutcherson has expressed interest in returning as Peeta, and both Katniss and Peeta appear in the Sunrise on the Reaping novel. The film is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026, with Francis Lawrence directing, writers Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins, and producers Brad Simpson, Nina Jacobson and Joseph Zada.

Key Topics

Culture, Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, Suzanne Collins, Francis Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson