And it’s a sentiment shared by Blyth, who plays a younger version of Panem president Cornelius Snow in the prequel. (Donald Sutherland plays the character in the original films.)
In fact, in a separate interview with E!, the actor praised producers for making “an effort to let this be a moment where we get to experience it for the first time” by separating the prequel cast from the OG.
“It is such a stand-alone, fresh movie that isn’t kind of a follow-on,” Blyth explained. “I think they’ve honored that really sweetly in the way that that’s kind of giving a space to experience it fresh.”
Rachel Zegler—whose character Lucy Gray Baird is a District 12 tribute, just like Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen—noted that she’s somewhat glad she eventually crossed paths with the No Hard Feelings star after production on the prequel had wrapped. “It relieves you of pressure,” she shared, “because comparisons are inevitable.”
However, Zegler shared that Lawrence couldn’t be nicer when they did finally meet up. “It was really wonderful,” she recalled. “We have so many people in common. It was like catching up with a friend.”
And at the recent red carpet premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes in Berlin, Zegler paid homage to Lawrence’s iconic heroine by wearing a black ballgown similar to the one Katniss donned in 2018’s Catching Fire.
“I was so excited to get it because it reminded me of the silhouette of Jennifer’s dress in the film,” she said of her Alexander McQueen look to E!. “I feel really thankful that the public responded the way that they did, but surely I was just excited to be there to celebrate my film with my peers.”
For a closer look at The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, out in theaters Nov. 17, keep reading.
The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Poster
Lionsgate released a first look at the dramatic dystopian movie based on Suzanne Collins‘ book.
Meet the Songbird
A first look at the nomadic singer Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler
in Songbirds & Snakes.
Pure as Snow
Lucy Gray is assigned Capitol citizen Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) as her mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games.
Star-Crossed Lovers
Chemistry is catching fire between the young pair.
Doom in District 12
The nomadic singer appears in the rural district in the prequel film.
Meet Tigris
A first look at a young Tigris (Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer) who lives on to see the 75th Hunger Games as she appears in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.
The Weather is Looking Lucky
Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman) is an on-air weathercaster for the Capitol before he is tapped to act as host of the 10th Hunger Games.
Schoolmates
Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andrés Rivera) and Coriolanus strike up a friendship in the Capitol’s Academy.
Haunted by the Past
Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) is Dean of the Academy and runs the first ever mentorship program for the Hunger Games—but a past connection to the Games may prove to be too much.
The Mind Behind the Games
In addition to being an instructor at the Academy, Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis) acts as the Head Gamemaker for the 10th Hunger Games and is known for her muttations.
Let the Games Begin
The 10th Hunger Games might look different for seasoned fans, but they will prove to be the most important for the Capitol yet.
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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