Jennifer Lawrence Gets Emotional Returning as Katniss After 11 Years
WHO:
Vulture - Jennifer Lawrence’s comments were described as the first confirmation that Woody Harrelson would return as Haymitch.
Rolling Stone TV Movies - Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson reunited while working on the new *Hunger Games* movie.
Coming Soon - Jennifer Lawrence will reprise Katniss Everdeen in *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*.
Deadline - Lawrence confirmed that she reunited with co-stars Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson for the film.
Variety - Lawrence, an Oscar winner, spoke about reprising Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming prequel *Sunrise on the Reaping*.
WHAT:
Vulture - Advance tickets for the prequel’s opening weekend went on sale through AMC, Cinemark and Fandango; within minutes, the sites and apps crashed or displayed heavy-demand error messages. AMC then added an app queue.
The Hollywood Reporter - Woody Harrelson climbed through Jennifer Lawrence’s hotel-room window uninvited during the reunion.
The Hollywood Reporter - Lawrence said she gave herself a pixie cut in 2013 to protest producers refusing to provide a wig for *Mockingjay* after she grew tired of dyeing her hair brown.
The Hollywood Reporter - *Sunrise on the Reaping* follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy competing in the 50th Hunger Games, also called the Second Quarter Quell, where twice as many tributes are forced to fight to the death.
The Hollywood Reporter - Joseph Zada plays young Haymitch, and Ralph Fiennes plays President Snow.
IJR - Lawrence confirmed she will appear as Katniss Everdeen in the epilogue of *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*.
Rolling Stone TV Movies - Lawrence returned to the set and fell back into step alongside Hutcherson and Harrelson.
Coming Soon - Lawrence is returning to Panem and reprising her role as Katniss Everdeen.
Deadline - Lawrence described reuniting with Hutcherson as “so emotional.”
Variety - Lawrence said playing Katniss again was “crazy,” “unbelievable” and “so beautiful.”
WHERE:
Coming Soon - The story is set in Panem.
Rolling Stone TV Movies - The reunion took place on the set of the new *Hunger Games* movie.
WHEN:
Rolling Stone TV Movies - Lawrence returned to the role after more than a decade.
Coming Soon - Lawrence returned to the franchise after an 11-year break.
Variety - Lawrence reprised Katniss for the first time in 11 years.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - Lawrence said she cut her hair into a pixie in protest after *The Hunger Games* producers initially refused to provide a wig for *Mockingjay*, leaving her tired of dyeing her hair brown.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Lawrence said the reunion involved the same crew, including the same camera operators and assistant director she had worked with many times; she and Josh Hutcherson “didn’t walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other.”
IJR - Lawrence said seeing the original crew again was “meaningful.”
Deadline - Lawrence discussed her return in an interview on the *Call Her Daddy* podcast.
Variety - Lawrence spoke about reprising Katniss on an episode of the *Call Her Daddy* podcast.
(UPDATED October 29, 2026 04:05 UTC)
Jennifer Lawrence is returning as Katniss Everdeen in the *Hunger Games* prequel *Sunrise on the Reaping*, appearing in its epilogue after an 11-year break from the franchise. She said reuniting with Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson on set was emotional and meaningful, and Harrelson was also confirmed to return as Haymitch. The story follows 16-year-old Haymitch, played by Joseph Zada, in the 50th Hunger Games, while Ralph Fiennes plays President Snow; advance ticket demand briefly overwhelmed sales sites and apps.
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(UPDATED October 28, 2026 22:01 UTC)
Jennifer Lawrence is returning as Katniss Everdeen in the epilogue of *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*, reuniting with Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson after 11 years. Lawrence called the reunion emotional and meaningful, saying she and Hutcherson were so close they didn’t walk to the bathroom without their arms around each other; Harrelson even climbed uninvited through her hotel-room window. The prequel follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games, while Ralph Fiennes plays President Snow.
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(UPDATED October 28, 2026 20:01 UTC)
Jennifer Lawrence is returning as Katniss Everdeen in the epilogue of *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*. After an 11-year break from the role, she reunited on set with co-stars Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson. Lawrence said seeing the original crew again was meaningful and described reuniting with Hutcherson as emotional.
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(UPDATED October 28, 2026 17:12 UTC)
Jennifer Lawrence is returning as Katniss Everdeen in the new Hunger Games prequel, *Sunrise on the Reaping*, marking her first time playing the role in 11 years. She reunited on set with Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson, describing the reunion with Hutcherson as “so emotional.” Speaking on the *Call Her Daddy* podcast, Lawrence called playing Katniss again “crazy,” “unbelievable” and “so beautiful.”