Will Josh Hutcherson return as Peeta in the new Hunger Games film?

Josh Hutcherson says he knows ‘nothing’ about a Peeta return but admits it would be ‘cool’ if it happened.

Josh Hutcherson is keeping expectations low when it comes to reprising his role as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The actor, now 32, shut down swirling fan rumours in a new interview with Brit + Co, saying he currently has no involvement with the upcoming prequel.

“That’d be cool,” he said when asked directly about the speculation, but added, “No, I know nothing in that world right now.” Despite the uncertainty, Hutcherson’s comments left a sliver of hope alive for fans still attached to his character from the original films.

The new movie, slated for release on 20 November 2026, follows a young Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, as he fights in the brutal Second Quarter Quell. Although Peeta doesn’t feature in the film’s main storyline, both he and Katniss appear briefly in the epilogue of Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, leaving open the possibility of cameo appearances.

Hutcherson played Peeta in all four original Hunger Games films, starting in 2012 and concluding with Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015. While his character isn’t essential to the current prequel’s plot, his legacy remains central to the franchise.

The upcoming cast features Whitney Peak, Elle Fanning, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, and Glenn Close, among others. Directed by series veteran Francis Lawrence, Sunrise on the Reaping promises a star-studded and emotionally charged look at a pivotal chapter in Panem’s history.

Though Hutcherson insists he’s currently uninvolved, he expressed ongoing love for the series, calling it ‘amazing’ and something he’ll ‘love forever.’ Whether that passion leads to a surprise return remains to be seen, but the door, it seems, isn’t completely closed.