Jennifer Lawrence has broken her silence regarding her return to The Hunger Games, with the actor teasing that it will be worth a watch. With just over 10 months to go until The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is released, the anticipation is building.
It was confirmed last month that Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson would be reprising their respective roles of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark for the upcoming film, the bulk of which is set 24 years before the main events of the series.
Speaking with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Lawrence was urged by the host to “catch up” with director Francis Lawrence, with the actor teasing: “Maybe we already have.”
“If you believe everything on the Internet,” replied Horowitz, with Lawrence responding: “Oh yeah, it is out on the Internet, isn’t it?” After the host asked if he should see the upcoming film, Lawrence emphatically said: “Yes”.
Lawrence had previously expressed her willingness to reprise her role, with the actor saying to Variety in 2023: “If Katniss ever could ever come back into my life, [I’d] 100% [make a comeback].”
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Hutcherson went one step further and suggested that author Suzanne Collins should write more novels in the series to increase his appearances as Peeta, with the star saying: “I would happily play Peeta again. The Hunger Games was incredible.
“I think Peeta’s an incredible person to bring to life. I’m curious to know what happens between when they [Peeta and Katniss] have their family… If you can talk to Suzanne Collins and tell her to write a book, I’m in.”
The dystopian action film is based on Collins’s 2025 novel of the same name, with the story following Haymitch Abernathy as he recalls the tale of his involvement in the 50th Hunger Games.
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Lawrence and Hutcherson, who appeared in all four instalments of the main series, have had their returns facilitated by a framing device within the story, whereby Haymitch recalls his past to Katniss and Peeta.
Haymitch, who was played by Woody Harrelson in the main series, will be portrayed by Joseph Zada in the latest film, with the stacked cast also including Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Mckenna Grace, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin and Maya Hawke.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to be released in cinemas on 20 November.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.