Jennifer Lawrence On Reprising ‘Hunger Games’ Role For ‘Sunrise On The Reaping’: “It Was So Emotional”

Jennifer Lawrence will reprise her Katniss Everdeen role in The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping.

In a new interview, Lawrence confirmed she reunited with co-stars Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson for the new film.

“It was so emotional,” Lawrence said on the Call Her Daddy podcast. “Josh and I didn’t walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other. It was so beautiful.”

Lawrence said returning to The Hunger Games was “unbelievable” and “it was so crazy,” pointing out that “the same crew” worked on the prequel.

“Woody, obviously, came through the window of my hotel room, uninvited,” Lawrence said. “It wouldn’t be the same if he listened to boundaries and used a door.”

RELATED: Everything We Know About The ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ Movie So Far

Lawrence first played Katniss in 2012’s The Hunger Games, with Hutcherson playing Peeta Mellark and Harrelson playing Haymitch Abernathy. The trio would reprise their roles in 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, 2014’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1, and 2015’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.

Speculation over Lawrence and Hutcherson reprising their Hunger Games roles started when author Suzanne Collins released the prequel book Sunrise on the Reaping. The prequel offers an update on Katniss and Peeta after the Games.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie, based on the adaptation and novel by Suzanne Collins.

The film follows sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) from District 12, beginning on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, the biggest Games yet with twice as many tributes.

Set in the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the story follows Haymitch into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol’s control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes).

As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena — setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever.

The cast includes Joseph Zada, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ben Wang. Other actors featured include Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.

Watch Lawrence’s full interview with Alex Cooper in the video below.