The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is rounding off its star-studded cast, and, of course, fans are wondering if familiar faces will be coming back for the long-anticipated prequel.
Josh Hutcherson, who notably played Peeta Mellark in the original Hunger Games film franchise, in which he starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence, was asked about reprising his role and his potential return to the franchise in a new interview with Brit + Co, and said: "Yeah, no, that'd be cool [but] I know nothing in that world right now." He added: "Hunger Games is amazing, and I've loved it for many years and I will love it forever."
Why do fans think Josh Hutcherson could return to the Hunger Games?
Fans have been speculating about Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence reprising their roles for the prequel for a while now, following a widespread unconfirmed rumor that the two stars, alongside Woody Harrelson, had signed on for a two-day shoot for the film.
ICYMI: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping centers on the events of the 50th Hunger Games, where Haymitch Abernathy, the role originated by Woody Harrelson, emerged as Victor.
Newcomer Joseph Zada will take on the role of young Haymitch, and though Woody Harrelson has not been announced as part of the new movie, the actor did lend his voice to one of the early teaser videos for the project, making fans believe flashbacks and flashforwards could be used as a storytelling mechanism in the upcoming project.
Are Peeta and Katniss in Sunrise on the Reaping?
If you are confused as to how the rumored reprisal of the roles would be, seeing as Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 24 years before the events of the first Hunger Games movie, the answer is simple: epilogue.
Suzanne Collins's prequel novel, which came out in March 2025, features an epilogue where Haymitch recounts the events of the 50th Hunger Games to Peeta and Katniss, which is how the three fan-favorite actors could return to the Hunger Games universe.
Earlier this year, Hutcherson already said he “would happily play Peeta again” if the right chance arose. “I think Peeta’s an incredible person to get to bring to life. I’m curious to know what happens between when they have their family and when the story ends, just to understand what happened in the world, how they got to that place. But I’m down. If you can talk to Suzanne Collins and tell her to write a book, I’m in. Sign me up.”
For now, we only have an epilogue, so we shall see if that suffices. Until we get any sort of confirmation from Lionsgate, however, Josh Hutcherson's reprisal of Peeta will remain a fan theory.
