It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence last played the fan-favorite characters Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen, respectively, in 2015’sThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 2. Seriously, where does the time go? Anyway, since then,The Hunger Gamesmovie franchise has only expanded, spawning two prequels:The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes(2023), which centers on a young President Snow before he rose to power, and now,Sunrise of the Reaping, which will follow a 16-year-old Haymitch as he prepares to fight in the second Quarter Quell. With a star-studded cast confirmed forSunrise of the Reaping, which is set to hit theaters in November 2026, rumors of a certainHunger Gamesalum returning to make a surprise cameo in the upcoming sequel have been circulating online for quite a while now. But could there be some truth to these rumors?
In an exclusive interview with Brit + Co,Hunger GamesstarJosh Hutcherson(who is set to return forFive Nights at Freddy’s 2alongsideScreamalums Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich) responded to rumors that speculated Peeta could possibly make an appearance in the upcomingSunrise of the Reapingfilm. Just in case you haven’t had a chance to read the book, Peeta and Katniss make a brief cameo in the epilogue ofSuzanne Collins' novelSunrise of the Reaping, which was released on bookstore shelves back in March of this year. When asked about whether he would be open to returning for the newHunger Gamesprequel, Hutcherson simply responded:
“Yeah, no, that’d be cool.”
Hutcherson went on to say, “No, I know nothing in that world right now.The Hunger Gamesis amazing, and I’ve loved it for many years, and I will love it forever.” In the epilogue ofSunrise of the Reaping,Katniss and Peeta (following the events of the originalHunger Gamestrilogy) are helping Haymitch cope with his past and the trauma he endured in the Games. The moment takes place years after the end ofMockingjay: Part 2,where fans last saw Katniss and Peeta with children of their own, living in a Panem-free world. Being that a great deal of time has passed sinceMockingjay: Part 2and the epilogue inSunrise of the Reaping,it would be possible for Hutcherson to make a cameo as Peeta because his character would have aged in the story. Plus, they can use makeup to help him appear older if need be. So, it could be done.
Hutcherson was first introduced as Peeta Mellark in 2012’sThe Hunger Games. He went on to play the character in three of the Hunger Games films, includingThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire(2013),The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1(2014) andThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 2.
Who Is Set to Star in the ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel ‘Sunrise of the Reaping’?
Like we said before, the upcomingSunrise of the Reapingis going to feature a star-studded cast. To name a few, the prequel cast will include Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, McKenna Grace and Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemos as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle and Billy Porter as Magno Stift. The cast will also feature a slew of new faces, including Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Iris Apatow as Proserpina and Edvin Ryding as Vitus. Make sure to mark your calendars becauseSunrise of the Reapingpremieres in theaters on June 03, 2025. In the meantime, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for a surprise Josh Hutcherson cameo.
Source:Brit + Co
The Hunger Games
