Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jena Malone Join Hunger Games: Catching Fire

I guess even Oscar winning actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman want to be part of guaranteed box office success sometimes. EW.com reports that Hoffman - who I love - has signed on to The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as Plutarch Heavensbee. Heavensbee is the politically crafty Head Gamemaker who oversees the 75th Annual Hunger Games.
According to EW, "Hoffman is the first new actor to officially join the wildly popular franchise, alongside stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald Sutherland.  EW didn't mention Stanley Tucci - I hope he'll be back. I'm sure this Hunger Games will be just as fun and campy as number one but with actors like Hoffman, Sutherland, Tucci, Harrelson along for the ride...just think what they could do with a really well written script. I hate to be pessimistic but the chances of that happening aren't that good. They'll want to repeat the formula but will be overly comfortable because of the huge built in fan base not just of the book, but of the first movie which was a phenom!

Actress Jena Malone has reportedly signed up to play tribute Johanna Mason — EW first reported that Malone was in the running for the role — but Lionsgate has yet to confirm that casting." Lionsgate may not have confirmed but it's on IMDB so I bet she's a go. She's not a name yet but take a look at her picture and I bet you'll react as I did. 'Oh yeah, I've seen her." She's been working quite a while and there's something quirky and really memorable about her face. Which should serve her well because she is going to play the lead in a film called The Lonely Hunter. She'll be playing Carson McCullers. The film is about Southern writer Mccullers - who wrote The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Member of the Wedding - and her tumultuous marriages to the same man, her friendship with literary icons like Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams.  What a role! Forget Hunger Games ... I can't wait for this one!

The Director Francis Lawrence is set to begin shooting Catching Fire later this year. Along with Hoffman’s casting, the studio also released its first official synopsis for the film, based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins: 

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.