Josh Hutcherson Reflects On The Hunger Games Franchise

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Summary

  • Josh Hutcherson is open to returning to The Hunger Games franchise for the upcoming prequel film.
  • The prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunshine on the Reaping, may see the return of original stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Woody Harrelson.
  • Despite lower box office numbers, Lionsgate is moving forward with more Hunger Games prequel stories, with Sunrise on the Reaping set for release in 2026.

It might seem like Josh Hutcherson is busy with the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie series, but surprisingly, he’s not finding it overwhelming. In fact, the Hunger Games actor is eager to get into more trouble in Panem, which will surely excite fans of the Young Adult series.

It’s surprising how easily we might overlook the significant impact of the original “Hunger Games” films during the 2010s. For instance, when “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” was released in 2013, it grossed an impressive $865 million globally. Compared to this, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” which premiered in 2023, made $348 million. Granted, that’s still a notable sum, but it’s significantly less than the original films’ earnings. Prequels often face more challenges than one might anticipate, as the “Fantastic Beasts” series from Warner Bros. demonstrates. Nevertheless, Lionsgate intends to continue exploring prequel stories for the “Hunger Games,” with “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” slated for release in 2026.

Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Josh Hutcherson at a humanitarian event held by Brit + Co at the Pasadena Humane Society. In our conversation, the upcoming Hunger Games prequel was inevitably brought up. When asked if he’d consider reprising his role, Hutcherson casually mentioned, “That’d be cool.” However, he added, “I don’t have any info about that world at the moment.” So, while it’s possible we might see Peeta Mellark again in Sunshine on the Reaping, Hutcherson is keeping any potential spoilers under wraps for now.

Josh Hutcherson Is Open To Returning To The Hunger Games As Peeta Mellark

Why Wouldn’t He Be Willing To Keep That Door Open?

As a die-hard fan of the Hunger Games series, I can’t help but get excited about the possibility of seeing familiar faces in the upcoming prequel, “Sunshine on the Reaping.” There’s a strong chance that Liam Hemsworth (Peeta Mellark), Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), and Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy) could reprise their iconic roles.

The prequel novel includes an intriguing epilogue where Haymitch shares memories from the 50th Hunger Games with Katniss and Peeta. If this scene were to be filmed, it would certainly come at a high price for the production team, given the need to keep such secrets under wraps. Yet, the joy it would bring to the dedicated fanbase is immeasurable.

Josh Hutcherson finds ‘The Hunger Games’ simply incredible, a sentiment he’s held dear for numerous years, and one that will continue to be true indefinitely.

Post the release of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” in 2015, Josh Hutcherson experienced a slump. However, his career has seen a notable revival recently. The “Five Nights at Freddy’s” series has been beneficial for him, he played an intriguing villain in the 2024 movie “The Beekeeper” starring Jason Statham, and he landed a lead role in Rachel Sennott’s upcoming HBO series. Starring in “Sunrise on the Reaping” would be another significant addition to his resume, although the film boasts an impressive lineup of stars already, including Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Billy Porter, Jesse Plemons, Maya Hawke, and Mckenna Grace. Quite an impressive roster indeed!

The Hunger Games: Sunshine on the Reaping is set to release in 2026.

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2025-08-03 18:35