Jennifer Lawrence has officially confirmed that she will once again portray Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games universe. The actress shared her impressions of working on the film 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' on Alex Cooper's podcast 'Call Her Daddy'. Thus, Lawrence commented on her cameo return to the franchise nearly 11 years after the release of the fourth installment, 'Mockingjay – Part 2' (2015).

'It Was Crazy': Impressions from the Set

Speaking about the production process, Lawrence emphasized that much of the crew remained the same from the original series. 'It was incredible, just crazy. It was the exact same crew, the exact same assistant director that I've worked with a million times because I adore him,' the actress said. According to her, the opportunity to return to the role after more than a decade was an emotionally significant event for her, and the familiar environment on set helped her quickly immerse herself back into the character.

Reunion with Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson

A special place in Lawrence's story was her reunion with her original saga co-stars. Josh Hutcherson, who played Peeta Mellark, and Woody Harrelson, who portrayed Haymitch Abernathy, also appear in the new film. 'It was so touching. Josh and I didn't even go to the bathroom without hugging. It was wonderful. And Woody, of course, uninvitedly climbed through my hotel room window. It wouldn't be him if he respected boundaries or used a door,' the actress admitted, drawing laughter from the podcast host.

Plot and Cast of 'Sunrise on the Reaping'

The events of the film take place 24 years before the start of the original saga. At the center of the story is 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy from District 12, played by Joseph Zada. The story begins on the day of the Reaping before the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. Upon entering the arena, Haymitch teams up with other tributes, notably Maysilee Donner (McKenna Grace), and together they find themselves drawn into a struggle against the system controlled by President Coriolanus Snow, whose role was performed by Ralph Fiennes. The cast also includes Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ben Wang. The picture is directed by Francis Lawrence, with a screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Leslie, and is based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.

Franchise Context

Jennifer Lawrence starred in four films of the main 'The Hunger Games' series between 2012 and 2015. The entire franchise, including the 2023 prequel 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' starring Rachel Zegler, has grossed about $3.3 billion worldwide. The new film 'Sunrise on the Reaping' continues the prequel line, expanding the universe and bringing back key faces of the original saga in cameo roles. The premiere of the picture is scheduled for November 2026 — according to various sources, the date ranges from November 19 to November 26.