Philip Seymour Hoffman Signs On For The Hunger Games Sequel

UPDATED: Now with full press release

It was only a month ago when Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of our finest actors, was rumoured to be circling a role in The Hunger Games sequel: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Though not confirmed at the time, now it seems that the actor has officially signed on to the blockbuster.

Hoffman will play Plutarch Heavensbee, the person who becomes head gamemaker after the death of Seneca Crane in The Hunger Games. Lionsgate hasn’t announced the actor’s involvement just yet, but there is expected to be a press release within the next couple of days.

Personally, I’m very excited to see Hoffman joining this franchise, for a couple of reasons. He’s one of my very favourite actors, he has been good in every film he’s ever been in (even if it’s really bad) and I really, really liked The Hunger Games, so to see Hoffman joining this already amazing cast just heightens the excitement.

Heavensbee is the second new, major character to be cast. The first was Johanna Mason, who will be played by Jena Malone. With both Heavensbee and Mason cast, now we just have to wait for an announcement on who will be playing Finnick Odair, as he’s the last major character that is without an actor.

Francis Lawrence will be at the helm for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which begins shooting in the fall and will be released on November 22nd, 2013. Read the press release below.

Santa Monica, CA, July 9, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast in the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, Head Gamemaker for The Hunger Games, in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire.

The actor and filmmaker just wrapped a Broadway run as Willy Loman in the revival of “Death of a Salesman” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. He will next be seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” and the indie film “A Late Quartet” alongside Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken. More recent films include “Moneyball,” “The Ides of March” and “Jack Goes Boating” which marked Hoffman’s feature directorial debut.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Source: E!/Deadline