The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson hasn’t ruled out stepping back into the arena.
While the Five Nights at Freddy’s sequel is keeping him busy for now, the actor recently said he’s open to playing Peeta Mellark again if The Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins has more story to tell.
Speaking at Dream It Con in Paris, Hutcherson told fans he’d “happily” reprise the role that made him a household name.
He said, “I would happily play Peeta again. The story is incredible. The Hunger Games was incredible. I think Peeta’s an incredible person to get to bring to life.”
He also shared some curiosity about what Peeta’s life looked like after the events of the original series.
Hutcherson added, “I’m curious to know what happens between when they have their family and when the story ends, just to understand what happened in the world, how they got to that place.”
“But I’m down. If you can talk to Suzanne Collins and tell her to write a book, I’m in. Sign me up.”
His comments follow the announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping, a new prequel novel by Collins, set 24 years before the original series.
The story will centre on the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, and is already set for a film adaptation, due in cinemas in autumn 2026.
Hutcherson first played Peeta in 2012’s The Hunger Games and returned for three more films: Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2, opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth.
Although Sunrise on the Reaping focuses on a time long before Peeta and Katniss, fans have long speculated about a potential sequel exploring the couple’s life after the rebellion.
Outside the arena, Hutcherson is also returning to his role as Mike Schmidt in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which premieres December 5.
The sequel reunites him with director Emma Tammi and co-star Matthew Lillard following the first film’s massive success in 2023.
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