Jennifer Lawrence Returns as Katniss in Hunger Games Prequel Sunrise on the Reaping: ‘It Was So Emotional’

Jennifer Lawrence is stepping back into the boots of Katniss Everdeen for the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. The Oscar winner confirmed her return in a new interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast, revealing that she reunited on set with co-stars Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark) and Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy). For fans of the blockbuster franchise, the news marks a major moment—Lawrence had previously suggested her time in Panem was over, but the new story, set decades before the original trilogy, brings her character back in a key role. Lawrence described the experience as deeply moving, telling the podcast, “It was so emotional,” and hinting that the bond with her former castmates remains strong. The prequel, based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, explores the 50th Hunger Games and the origins of Haymitch, with Katniss’s presence likely tied to a frame narrative. The original Hunger Games films grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide, and Lawrence’s return is expected to drive massive interest when Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters in November 2026. For fans, it’s a chance to see a beloved hero once more—and for Hollywood, proof that some franchises never truly end.