Jennifer Lawrence has reached a point in her career where each new project feels deliberate rather than reactive. After years defined by franchise dominance, awards recognition and cultural ubiquity, her recent choices suggest a quieter recalibration—one shaped by selective collaborations, tonal shifts and stories that sit somewhere between prestige and risk.
The road ahead reflects that balance. Upcoming films place her in the hands of auteurs and unexpected genres alike, signaling a phase driven less by visibility and more by curiosity. It’s a slate that hints at reinvention without rupture, where momentum is measured not by volume, but by intent.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | 2026
(Source: IMDb)
Jennifer Lawrence is confirmed to be involved in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the sixth film in the franchise, scheduled to hit theaters on November 20, 2026.
While Sunrise on the Reaping is primarily a prequel, set 24 years before the original series and based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, reports indicate that Lawrence (as Katniss Everdeen) and Josh Hutcherson (as Peeta Mellark) will reprise their iconic roles in a cameo or flash-forward sequence, marking their first return to Panem since Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015.
The movie centers on the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy as he battles in one of the deadliest iterations of the Games.
The ensemble cast includes Joseph Zada as young Haymitch, Whitney Peak, Maya Hawke, Ralph Fiennes and Elle Fanning among others, with Francis Lawrence returning to direct. Katniss and Peeta’s involvement is being positioned as a link between the prequel’s historical narrative and the modern era of the saga.
What Happens at Night | TBA
Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence (Source: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix)
One of the most talked-about upcoming roles for Lawrence is What Happens at Night, a film set to be directed by Martin Scorsese and co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio, marking a striking new pairing of award-winning talents in a story that sits stylistically between psychological drama and genre mystery.
Adapted from Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name, the narrative follows an American couple who travel to a snowy European town to adopt a baby. Once there, they check into an unsettling, nearly deserted hotel, populated by eccentric and enigmatic characters — from a flamboyant chanteuse to a charismatic faith healer — setting off a series of psychological unravelings for both characters. Scorsese’s vision is expected to emphasize atmosphere and character depth, building tension through cinematic style rather than traditional genre tropes.
Lawrence’s role alongside DiCaprio — her first with Scorsese — represents a career pivot toward heavier, more challenging material and a partnership with one of cinema’s most revered directors. Filming is reported to begin in early 2026, though a release window has not yet been confirmed.
Untitled Lawrence/Amy Schumer Project | TBA
Amy Schumer and Jennifer Lawrence (Source: Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
This still-untitled project pairs Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer in a character-driven comedy built around sisterhood and contrast. The story follows two sisters with opposite personalities: one is a classic Type-A overachiever, focused and disciplined, whose lifelong dream is to become a flight attendant; the other lives in near-constant chaos, defined by impulsive decisions and a lack of direction.
What sets the film apart is its creative backbone. Lawrence and Schumer are not only starring but also co-writing the script, shaping the dynamic from the inside rather than stepping into a pre-built premise. That authorship suggests a tone rooted in lived-in humor, leaning less on punchlines and more on character friction, emotional imbalance, and the uneasy intimacy of sibling relationships.
Still without a release date or confirmed director, the project fits squarely within Lawrence’s evolving slate: smaller in scale than her franchise work, but sharper in voice. With Schumer’s comedic instincts and Lawrence’s range for self-aware performance, the film is positioned as a comedy driven by perspective rather than formula.
The Wives | TBA
Jennifer Lawrence attends the 16th Governors Awards in 2025. (Source: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
The Wives positions Jennifer Lawrence at the center of a sharp, darkly comic mystery rooted in excess and social tension. The story follows wealthy women consumed by drinking, rivalries, and lavish lifestyles, whose carefully curated worlds begin to fracture when a dead body is suddenly discovered, forcing secrets to the surface.
Lawrence is attached as both lead actress and producer, reinforcing her growing interest in projects that blend genre with character-driven satire. The film leans into contrasts — privilege versus consequence, image versus reality — using its affluent setting as a pressure cooker rather than mere backdrop.
Still in development, The Wives is expected to balance mordant humor with suspense, echoing classic ensemble mysteries while grounding its drama in contemporary social dynamics. It’s a project that highlights Lawrence’s continued move toward material where tone, control, and perspective matter as much as star power.
