Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning… the next Hunger Games movie is already boasting one of the most impressive casts Hollywood has seen in years. And still, the studio decided to top it off by confirming that Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence are returning to the franchise.
Even though both actors are now global fan favorites, their true rise to international fame began with their portrayals of Peeta and Katniss — the central characters of Suzanne Collins’ bestselling series. The saga returned to the big screen with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and will continue with Dawn at the Reaping.
Although the original trilogy — technically a four-film series — wrapped in 2015, Collins got back to work and published a prequel in 2020 focused on President Snow’s youth. The rights were quickly picked up, and its movie adaptation premiered in 2023, becoming a box-office hit.
The creative team behind the franchise had long said they would only continue expanding the universe if Collins wrote more stories. That happened in 2025, when she released a new novel centered on the Hunger Games of Haymitch Abernathy. The announcement of the book was immediately followed by news of its film adaptation, which practically began shooting before the novel even hit shelves.
The plot revolves around a sixteen-year-old Haymitch — who, years later, becomes mentor to Katniss and Peeta — as he faces his own Games and the experiences that shaped him into the man fans know from the original trilogy.
So Why Are Josh and Jennifer Coming Back?
While their return is sure to be one of the most celebrated moments for longtime fans, it doesn’t make much narrative sense at first glance — especially since the story takes place decades before either character is born.
(Warning: spoilers for Dawn at the Reaping. Stop reading if you’re not familiar with the story.)
However, the book’s epilogue jumps forward in time. It picks up right after the ending of Mockingjay, once the reaping has been abolished and Haymitch, Katniss, and Peeta are living peacefully in District 12.
One day, Abernathy decides to open up to the people he now considers family and tell them about his past and his own Hunger Games. After hearing about his relationship with Lenore Dove, Katniss gives him a gift — a few goose eggs for him to care for. The book closes on a peaceful image of District 12’s fields and the birds wandering about.
Because of this, it’s entirely plausible that the film will show Katniss and Peeta appearing alongside Haymitch in the final minutes of the movie.
The Hunger Games: Dawn at the Reaping hits theaters on November 20, 2026.
Read the article in Spanish by Javier Rodrigo and Alba Benito
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