Jennifer Lawrence Returns as Katniss for 2026 Prequel

Jennifer Lawrence is back as Katniss Everdeen in a new Hunger Games prequel, slated for a November 20, 2026 release. The film, titled The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy as the 50th Annual Hunger Games begin. Lawrence says returning feels "unbelievable" and "crazy," noting the same crew and AD she worked with before. She reunited with Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson, who will reprise Peeta and Haymitch respectively. The two actors joked they never left the bathroom arm-in-arm, and Harrelson even burst into her hotel room uninvited. Harrelson's voice appears in an early teaser, hinting he may narrate the film's origin story. Directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie, the movie is based on Suzanne Collins' book. Fans will also see new faces like Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Mckenna Grace as Maysilee, and Glenn Close. This 2026 release marks the sixth film in the franchise, connecting back to the original series that began in 2012.