Will Peeta Return in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’? Fans Decode Josh Hutcherson’s Cryptic Interview

There will be another Hunger Games competition to watch closely in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and the original franchise’s characters can still make it to the upcoming movie.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel of the same name, Sunrise on the Reaping flashes back to the 50th Hunger Games aka Second Quarter Quell that would later announce Haymitch Abernathy, played by Woody Harrelson in the original movies, as its winner.

Despite unfolding almost 25 years earlier than the events of “The Hunger Games”, the prequel novel has one brief scene that features Katniss and Peeta.

However, Josh Hutcherson’s recent revelations have just made it all even more complicated for fans’ understanding.

Will Katniss and Peeta Appear in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’? Josh Hutcherson Won’t Tell Us Anyway

Both actors might have moved on with their new roles, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t expected to come back to The Hunger Games at some point, which is why Josh Hutcherson has recently been caught with a question of whether he heard something about Sunrise on the Reaping’s ongoing filming.

“No, I know nothing in that world right now”, the actor said in an interview with Brit + Co, adding that “that’d be cool” if he was allowed to reprise his role of Peeta Mellark sometime in the future.

Whether he or Jennifer Lawrence will appear in fact in the upcoming prequel or not, The Hunger Games’ fans would be fine with at least a single mention of the beloved characters, especially since in Sunrise on the Reaping it does make sense.

Apart from the obvious connection to the prequel’s leading character Haymitch Abernathy, both Katniss and Peeta are featured in the epilogue where Haymitch recounts the entire story of his victory at the Hunger Games and recalls meeting Katniss for the first time when she was just born.

‘The Hunger Games’ Fans Can’t Help Sensing Josh Hutcherson Is Hiding Something

Sunrise on the Reaping is still more than a year away from its release, so many details from the movie’s set rightfully remain shrouded in mystery, including potential comebacks.

“I don't think he or Jennifer would be able to confirm this cause wouldn't they be on an NDA? It's very likely he could just be lying”, Slight-Solution936 revealed in a news-related thread.

“In the Clip he looks kinda nervously away. I'm telling you that man is lying”, Maia-Odair chimed in.

“After the way Andrew Garfield yelled that he wasn’t in the most recent spiderman and it being a huge lie I’ll never believe what actors say again”, kayleeli0129 commented.

Meanwhile, Sunrise on the Reaping is currently scheduled for a worldwide release on November 20, 2026.