Original Hunger Games Star Addresses Potential Return in 2026’s Prequel Movie

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Back in May 2012, when Lionsgate premiered the first Hunger Games film, it’s debatable if they foresaw the series still being successful a whole decade later. With a prequel movie, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, already released, the studio is now busy preparing for another film. Currently in production is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, focusing on a young Haymitch. Contrary to popular belief, Josh Hutcherson, who played Peeta Mellark in the original Hunger Games movie, hasn’t definitively ruled out reprising his role in the prequel film. The actor has recently discussed his character and the speculations surrounding his potential return.

Recently, Hutcherson participated in the Pasadena Humane Society and NBCUniversal’s Clear the Shelters campaign and spoke to Brit + Co about a potential comeback as Peeta. When asked if fans could anticipate seeing him as Peeta in the upcoming “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” next year, the actor didn’t dismiss the possibility. He expressed enthusiasm for the role by saying, “That would be cool. No, I know nothing about that world right now,” and added, “The Hunger Games is fantastic, and I’ve admired it for a long time; I will continue to cherish it forever.

Could Peeta Appear in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Repaing?

Although the actor hasn’t excluded the possibility of rejoining the Hunger Games series imminently, it’s important to understand that appearing in Sunrise at the Reaping is extremely unlikely. The film and its source material unfold roughly forty years after the incidents depicted in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and approximately twenty years before the events of The Hunger Games. The main narrative of Sunrise at the Reaping revolves around a young Haymitch and the Quarter Quell, which includes twice as many tributes as the usual games. In this story, neither Katniss nor Peeta inhabit the world of Sunrise at the Reaping yet.

Although it’s not immediate, there might still be a chance for Hutcherson to reprise his role as Peeta in the future. Author Suzanne Collins, known for her successful series, is still developing the storyline, potentially opening up opportunities for any character or timeframe to be featured at some point. For now, however, Collins and Lionsgate are focusing on the Hunger Games that occurred prior to Katniss Everdeen’s rise to fame, including the 74th and eventually the 75th games as well.

Hutcherson played Peeta in all four initial Hunger Games movies: The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. He acted alongside Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne. The worldwide gross of the original Hunger Games films exceeded $3 billion, and the spin-off movies have been doing well at the box office too; The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has already earned $348.4 million globally.

In the upcoming movie titled “The Hunger Games: Dawn of the Harvest,” Ralph Fiennes plays President Snow, Elle Fanning portrays Effie Trinket, Mckenna Grace takes the role of Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons is Plutarch Heavensbee, Joseph Zada stars as Haymitch Abernathy, Ben Wang appears as Wyatt Callow, Maya Hawke acts as Wiress, Kieran Culkin plays Caesar Flickerman, Lili Taylor is Mags Flanagan, Glenn Close embodies Drusilla Sickle, Jefferson White assumes the role of Mr. McCoy, and Billy Porter stars as Magno Stift. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 20, 2026.

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2025-08-04 18:40