Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson Are Reprising Their Roles In The New ‘Hunger Games’ Spinoff: A Look Back At the Original Cast

The odds were certainly in our favor as it was just announced that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will be reprising their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the prequel film, Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

As the stars of the original four films—The Hunger Games (2012), Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) and Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)—Lawrence and Hutcherson’s roles came to an end in 2015. Although they didn’t appear in the 2023 film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, they will be coming back in 2026.

The films were based on the novel series by Suzanne Collins, originally a trilogy written between 2008 and 2010. Two more novels were written in 2020 and 2025 for the most recent films.

Take a look back at the original cast members of The Hunger Games and remember why you loved Katniss and Peeta so much.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

Jennifer Lawrence is considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation and her journey here wasn’t exactly the ordinary route. Lawrence had always desired to be an actress, performing in local theater productions and school plays in Kentucky but it wasn’t until she was on a family trip to New York at age 14 that she was discovered. Lawrence was spotted by a talent scout and was soon offered modeling gigs, but she was persistent with wanting to be an actress.

In 2006, she booked her first role in Monk, followed by roles in The Bill Engvall Show (2007-2009), The Poker House (2008) and The Burning Pain (2008), which eventually led to her first Oscar nomination for Winter’s Bone. She won Academy Award a few years later for her role in in Silver Linings Playbook (2012) with Bradley Cooper. That same year she took on the life-changing role of Katniss Everdeen.

“She’s a warrior,” Lawrence said of her character at the time. “She’s this hero that doesn’t mean to be a hero. She’s a symbol of revolt, and freedom, and hope … a futuristic Joan of Arc.”

As for whether she’d want to bring her back, Lawrence recently said, “Oh, my God – totally! If Katniss ever could ever come back into my life, 100 percent.”

Since The Hunger Games franchise first ended in 2015, Lawrence has starred in several X-Men films (2011-2019), Mother! (2017), Red Sparrow (2018) and No Hard Feelings (2023). Lawrence has also since married director Cooke Maroney in 2019 and welcomed two children.

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark

Josh Hutcherson booked his first role as an actor in 2002 at age 10. His early roles include American Splendor (2003), Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), Little Manhattan (2005) and RV (2006). In 2007, Hutcherson scored his breakout role in Bridge to Terabithia alongside AnnaSophia Robb, followed by Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) and later, The Hunger Games (2012).

“I’ve never been a part of anything that has this much hype,” Hutcherson said in a 2012 interview. “Even before we shot the first frame! It’s exciting though, because as an actor you want as many people as possible to see your work – unless it’s bad – and this is something I’m really proud of and because it has such a big platform, I’m really excited for people to see it.”

Since wrapping up his time as Peeta, Hutcherson has starred in Escobar: Paradise Lost (2014), Future Man (2017-2020), Ultraman (2010-2023), Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025) and, most recently, I Love LA (2025). Hutcherson has been with his girlfriend, Claudia Traisac, since 2013.

Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne

Hemsworth has been acting since 2007, with his first recurring role in Neighbours (2007), followed by The Elephant Princess (2008-2009), Triangle (2009) and The Last Song (2010). In 2012, Hemsworth scored the role of Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games.

“He’s a very, very strong character and I envied him in a lot of ways,” Hemsworth said of Gale. “He’s so young, but he’s keeping himself and a whole family alive, and when Katniss goes into these games he’s looking after her family now, as well…He’s a good guy.”

Since booking The Hunger Games, Hemsworth has starred in The Expendables 2 (2012), Love and Honor (2013), The Dressmaker (2015), The Duel (2016), Isn’t It Romantic (2019), Lonely Planet (2024) and The Witcher (2025). Hemsworth was married to Miley Cyrus from 2018 to 2020.

Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy

Everybody knows Woody Harrelson’s name from his 200-episode run on the sitcom Cheers (1985-1993). Following the show, Harrelson became a major film star with roles in Indecent Proposal (1993), Natural Born Killers (1994), Kingpin (1996). The People vs. Larry Flint (1996), Zombieland (2009) and The Hunger Games (2012).

“There hasn’t been anything I have been involved in where I have had so many kids come up to me…” Harrelson told HuffPostUK in 2012, speaking of his role in The Hunger Games. “This has been incredible because I have been in different places all round this country and I have had kids coming up and saying, ‘Are you playing Haymitch?’ It’s as exciting as hell how kids are so into this movie.”

Harrelson’s extensive film career continued after The Hunger Games with movies such as The Glass Castle (2017), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), The Man From Toronto (2022) and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (2025)—to name a few. Harrelson has been married to Laura Louie since 2008 and has three kids.

Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket

Before you knew her as Effie Trinket, you might’ve known Elizabeth Banks from Wet Hot American Summer (2001), Spider-Man (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002) and The Next Three Days (2010).

“The fact that the clothes are uncomfortable and constricting is just a reminder that Effie lives in a society that is uncomfortable and constricting,” Banks told ScreenRant of her character’s wardrobe. “It’s all done sort of on purpose. You know, Effie is the physical manifestation of The Capitol.”