Well, with Jena Malone landing the role of Johanna Mason in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" just before the July 4th holiday, it looks like another contract was inked, and we have to admit, this casting is a bit surprising.
E! News reveals that Philip Seymour Hoffman has signed on for the role of Plutarch Heavensbee in the highly anticipated sequel. While Lionsgate hasn't made the official announcement Lionsgate has also confirmed the casting today, issuing a press release that the actor, who was first linked to the part a month ago, has indeed joined the movie. It's a nice bit of a prestige name added to the cast, particularly from an actor who doesn't do blockbuster roles very often (his last one being the villain in "Mission: Impossible III" back in 2006) and it will be interesting to see him mix it up with the eclectic cast. As for Plutarch, he's the new Gamemaker after Seneca Crane gets executed after the events of "The Hunger Games."
Production on the movie is set to gear up this fall and the big role yet to cast is that of Finnick Odair, which had quite a few names being tossed around at one point, but no rumors since. But it seems the parts are getting locked up, so we presume that more will become known soon. Francis Lawrence is behind the camera for the film that will hit theaters on November 22, 2013.
