Is Josh Hutcherson stepping back into Peeta Mellark’s shoes for a return to The Hunger Games franchise?
Chances are slim, but the star recently dropped a small hint that might imply he will be in the upcoming film Sunrise on the Reaping, if only for a cameo.
Keep reading to find out more…
Speaking with Variety recently, Josh shared that he would “love” to be back on set again with the original cast, including Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, and Liam Hemsworth, plus director Francis Lawrence.
“It would not take any convincing at all. I’d be there in a heartbeat.”
Well, the upcoming Hunger Games film is based on Suzanne Collins‘ prequel novel of the same name, and the coda includes a flash-forward to the future after Mockingjay. A brief scene has an adult Haymitch telling Katniss and Peeta about his past.
When brought up by interviewer Adam B. Vary, the I Love LA actor smiled and said, “That would be a dream come true.”
“I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to communicate to me,” Adam responded.
And Josh replied, “It would be a dream come true. Do dreams come true? Sometimes. Sometimes not. Sometimes, yeah.”
And while we don’t know if Jennifer or Woody will be back (Liam is unlikely given his character died), at least one person Josh mentioned is officially attached to Sunrise on the Reaping already: director Francis Lawrence, who has directed every film in the franchise since Catching Fire.
It would be fun to see Jennifer and Josh reprise their roles, even just for one small epilogue scene. But we’ll have to wait until November 20, 2026 to find out when the film hits theaters. Watch the first official trailer!
