Suzanne Collin’sThe Hunger Gamestrilogy set the world ablaze when the first novel in the series,The Hunger Games, was released in 2008. By 2012, the series wasranked by NPRas one of the top series for young adults, coming in second to the much-belovedHarry Potterseries. A year after the first book was released, Lions Gate Entertainment and Color Force teamed up to begin production for a film adaptation. The film version ofThe Hunger Gameshit movie theaters worldwide and would attain a box office revenue of almost $700 million. Its cast, which boasted the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, and Liam Hemsworth, among many others, was also propelled into the spotlight.
As the trilogy turned into four different movies, it seemed thatThe Hunger Gameshad cemented its celebrity status of abook-to-film erapreviously occupied by and enamored with theHarry PotterandTwilightmovies. It had a massive change in the movie world, even if this was something many did not realize.The Hunger Gameswas one of the first mainstream franchises to show a female character, Katniss, who has solid character development and wields the power to try and change her destiny. Here’s a look at where the cast is today.
Update July 28, 2025: Are you wondering what have The Hunger Games’ actors been doing since the franchise ended? Then you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional films and projects from each of them.
Jennifer Lawrence
The Hunger Gamesmay not have beenJennifer Lawrence’s enthusiastic choice for a role, according toUSA Today, but it helped turn her into a global star. Since then,Lawrence’s best moviesincludeSilver Linings Playbook,American Hustle, andJoy. After a couple of recent films that did not do well, she chose to take some time off from her career and had a child. Two years later, in 2021, she returned with Netflix’sDon’t Look Up,where she played one of the lead roles alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.
Related:Best Movie Adaptations of Books Written By Women
Now she’s back both as an actor and producer, making 2023 films that interest her and let her show all of her talents. Be it dark, character-driven films likeCausewayorfunny R-rated comedies likeNo Hard Feelings.Her 2024 is already booked, as she has five projects in different stages of production, includingSue, a biopic of Hollywood super-agent Sue Mengers,Burial Rites,directed by Luca Guadagnino, andEast of Eden,so when the Actor’s strike ends, she’ll be more than busy.
Josh Hutcherson
Josh Hutcherson, who portrayed Peeta Mellark inthe Hunger Gamesseries, had some smaller roles here and there before appearing in the hit dystopian movie. His acting career has been quiet since the series ended, but he has appeared in movies likeThe Disaster ArtistandGirls. A couple of films have just been added to his filmography:Across the River and Into the Treesand thetime travel thriller57 Seconds, which is about to be released.
On August 09, 2025, the last project he’s been the lead in will be released,the Bloomhouse-produced horror filmFive Nights at Freddy’s.He has five more projects for 2024, including an action film with Jason Statham namedThe Beekeeperand sci-fiLittlemouth,where he’ll share the screen with Dennis Quaid and David Thewlis.
Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelsonhas had a fairly decorated career, and momentum has continued to be in his favor. SinceThe Hunger Gamesseries ended, he appeared in well-known films likeThe Edge of Seventeenwith Hailee Steinfeld,Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, andSolo: A Star Wars Story. He also took on the role ofCarnage most recently inVenom: Let There Be Carnage.
AfterThe Man From Torontoand the craziness that wasTriangle of Sadness,the actor hasn’t stopped working. He was one of the leads of the satirical comedy TV seriesWhite House Plumbersand led the American remake of the Spanish filmChampions.Audienceswill be seeing him next in supporting roles inLast Breath, Suncoast,andProject Artemis, Greg Berlanti’s movie where Harrelson will be part of a cast that also has Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum and Ray Romano.
Liam Hemsworth
One of the biggest questions for youths in the mid-2010s was asking if you were on Team Peeta or Team Gale — and many were on Team Gale.Liam Hemsworth, who portrayed Gale, has been fairly quiet recently. Since his breakup with singer Miley Cyrus in 2020, he only appeared inArkansasand the action television seriesMost Dangerous Game.
This 2023, he has already been part of Russell Crowe-ledPoker Face,and is repeating the experience of working with theGladiatoractor next year inLand of Bad.He’ll also be in Susannah Grant’s(Unbelievable)next film,Lonely Planet.But what most fans are waiting to see is his debut asGeralt of Rivia in the fourth season ofThe Witcherwhere he’ll replace none other than Henry Cavill in the titular role in what could be a star-making role for the younger Hemsworth.
Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey Wrighthas turned in great performancessince playing Beetee from the secondHunger Gamesmovie and onwards. His most recent appearance is in 2022’sThe Batman, but he can also be found in other blockbusters like Wes Anderson’sThe French Dispatch, the James Bond movieNo Time to Die, and HBO’sWestworld.
Related:The Batman: How Did Penguin Get His Villain Name?
This year, he has already appeared in Wes Anderson’sAsteroid Cityand George C. Wolfe’sRustin,and his voice has been heard in a couple of Marvel animated series. His most important role of 2023 still hasn’t been seen by many, but it’s already getting Oscar buzz as Wright could be nominated for his incredible performance as the lead Thelonious “Monk” Ellison in the indie filmAmerican Fiction.
Elizabeth Banks
WhileElizabeth Banksmay no longer be Effie Trinket, she can be called by many other names now. In 2023, she produced and directed the movieCocaine Bear,which is based on the true story of a black bear that accidentally consumed a duffel bag full of cocaine and was a small box-office success. Banks also directed 2019’sCharlie Angelsand also starred in the FX and Hulu showMrs. America.
After appearing in The Beanie Bubble this year, she already has seven projects in development as an actor, including voicing a character inDecember’s releaseMigration.She’s also working on her new directorial effort, the filmThe Greater Good.She also wants to develop a sequel toCocaine Bear.
Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenbergwas only 14 years old when they were cast in the role of Rue forThe Hunger Games. Audiences globally wept at their performance, and since then, they have appeared in myriad films and social causes. Some highlights includeThe Hate U Give,Dear Evan Hansen, and theupcoming Disney+ showThe Acolyte.
Her latest film, as the lead in the horror-comedyBodies Bodies Bodies,was a surprising success, and while audiences wait forThe Acolyte,the star and singer can be heard voicing Ozi inOzi: Voice of the Forestand Margo-Kess aka Spyder-Bite inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.Stenberg has been publicly outspoken about the social issues and causes that they are passionate about.
Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci’s role inThe Hunger Gamesseries is simple: he represents a mouthpiece of an oppressive government. Tucci, who has been in an incredible assortment of movies during his career, continued to star in the likes ofFinal Portrait,Beauty and the Beast, and the Whitney Houston biopic filmI Wanna Dance with Somebody. He also hosted the food seriesStanley Tucci: Searching for Italyfor two seasons.
His latest role has been as Barnard Orlick, a sarcastic Q-like character in the Amazon spy showCitadel.As always, he’ll be an incredible supporting player (and scene-stealer) in his upcoming projectsConclaveand the Russo’sThe Electric State, where he’ll be part of a cast that will also include Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.
Wes Bentley
Wes Bentleyappeared inThe Hunger Gamesas Seneca Crane, the game maker for the film. Benetly broke out in 1999 with his performance in the Academy Award-winning filmAmerican Beauty. FollowingThe Hunger Games, the actor appeared in films likeInterstellarandMission: Impossible - Fallout. Bentley became a mainstay of various seasons ofAmerican Horror Story, includingFreak Show, Hotel, andRoanoke. Currently, Bentley stars as Jamie Dutton in the popular seriesYellowstone.
Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherlandwas a major get forThe Hunger Gamesfranchise. A legendary actor was known for films likeMAS*H, Don’t Look Now, Animal House, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, andOrdinary People,just to name a few. So whenhe was cast as Coriolanus Snow, it was clearThe Hunger Gamesfranchise was serious about getting some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Sutherland returned for all the sequels and since then returned in films likeAd AstraandMr. Harrigan’s Phone.
Sam Claflin
English actorSam Claflinmay have originally appeared inPirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides,but his role asFinnick helped his career widen. He appeared alongside Elizabeth Banks in 2019’sCharlie’s Angels,but he has also appeared in other big movies such asEnola HolmesandAdrift. He was one of the leads of the TV miniseriesDaisy Jones & The Six, based on the American author Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel of the same name, where he acted, sang, and had incredible chemistry with Riley Keough.
Claflin already has a couple of projects in post-production, so audiences will probably see him next at the start of 2024 when he’ll be the lead in the horror filmThe BagmanandAnimal, where he has worked again with hisDaisy Jones’s co-star Suki Waterhouse.
Jena Malone
Jena Maloneappeared inThe Hunger Games: Catching Fireas Joanna Mason. Malone had already made a name for herself with roles inDonnie Darko, Into the Wild,andSucker Punch. Malone though, had a difficult time on the set ofThe Hunger Games, asshe revealed she was sexually assaulted during her time working on the franchise.
FollowingThe Hunger Gamesfranchise, Malone appeared in the filmAntebellumand has been a frequent collaborator of Zack Snyder. Malone’s role inBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justicewas cut from the theatrical release and restored in the director’s cut. She then voiced the role of Zeta inArmy of the Dead: Lost Vegasand will next be seen inRebel Moon. In addition, she is set to star inHorizon: An American Saga, an epic Western from Kevin Costner, and the romantic thrillerLove Lies Bleeding, in which she will star opposite Kristen Stewart, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris.
