New Balance sneakers would make a stellar baby shower gift—not just because of their wide toe-boxes, supportive arches, and non-slip soles. They're becoming an wardrobe essential for cool pregnant women, from Jennifer Lawrence to, now, Aubrey Plaza.
On April 8, not long after Peopleexclusively confirmed she is expecting her first child with partner Christopher Abbott, Plaza joined New York City's maternity style scene in a bump-covering, navy blue coat over gray sweatpants and—you guessed it—chunky New Balance sneakers. White-and-beige rubber soles stood out against each upper's warm-toned brown suede; a monogrammed "N" atop each sidewall appeared a few shades brighter than the chestnut-esque base.
New Balances are a staple in stylish women's closets, whether they're expecting or not. Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ana de Armas, and Kaia Gerber all love them, though they prefer more versatile color combinations like black and white, gray and beige, or silver and ivory this year.
This time last year, Jennifer Lawrence stuck to similar sneaker-forward uniforms while pregnant with her second child. Just like Plaza, she went for more unique New Balance color combinations, like butter yellow, silver, and green, from the Boston brand's 2019 collaboration with Aimé Leon Dore. The New Yorker even styled the sneakers with no-fuss sweatpants and oversize outerwear, much like Plaza did on Wednesday.
Turns out, Plaza and Lawrence have a lot more in common than just dry senses of humor. Both stars haven't fallen for the myth that your non-pregnant personal style has to collect dust until your due date. Other celebrity moms like Rihanna and Sofia Richie Grainge have proven your sneakers can (and should) transform right alongside you, even when swollen feet are the norm.
Jennifer Lawrence And Josh Hutcherson Are Returning To The Hunger Games Universe
The rumors are true, and months of denials have officially aged like milk. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are reportedly returning to the world of Panem, reprising their iconic roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in Lionsgate’s highly anticipated prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
At first, the idea seemed impossible. The new film takes place decades before Katniss ever volunteered for the Hunger Games, making the return of Lawrence and Hutcherson appear unlikely. However, the filmmakers have reportedly found a clever way to bring the beloved characters back without disrupting the timeline of the original trilogy.
The key is a framing device reportedly taken from Suzanne Collins’ latest novel. The story is expected to feature an older Katniss and Peeta spending time with Haymitch Abernathy as he tells them about the horrifying experience he endured during his own Hunger Games. This approach gives fans an opportunity to see the original characters again while allowing the prequel to remain focused on Haymitch’s story.
The revelation is especially amusing considering Josh Hutcherson’s recent comments about the project. For months, the actor insisted that he knew nothing about the upcoming film and emphasized how much he still loved the franchise. In Hollywood, however, such denials can often mean that a carefully worded confidentiality agreement is keeping the truth under wraps. Fans now have plenty of reason to laugh at those earlier statements.
Sunrise on the Reaping centers on the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. This particular Games was designed to be especially brutal, with twice the usual number of tributes being sent into the arena. The story follows a young Haymitch as he struggles to survive one of the most devastating and psychologically intense Games in Panem’s history.
Bringing Katniss and Peeta into the story through a framing sequence could create an emotional connection between Haymitch’s past and the characters fans have followed since the beginning of the franchise. It also gives Lawrence and Hutcherson a chance to return without changing the events established in the original films.
Fans have already taken to social media to celebrate the reported reunion, with many joking about how successfully the actors managed to keep the secret. The combination of familiar stars, Suzanne Collins’ source material, and director Francis Lawrence returning has created enormous anticipation.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 20, 2026. Whether Katniss and Peeta appear only briefly or play a more meaningful role remains unclear, but their return could make this new chapter one of the franchise’s biggest cinematic events yet.
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