By Zanub Saeed
Academy-Award winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is the latest addition cast for the second installment of "The Hunger Games" trilogy, "Catching Fire," reported E Online on Monday.
Sources told E! News that the actor, who won the Best Actor Oscar years ago for his portrayal of famous author Truman Capote in "Capote," has been cast as character Plutarch Heavensbee in "Catching Fire," which stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Woody Harrelson, among many others. The most recent addition to the cast was announced in June, when Jena Malone was set to take on the role of Johanna Mason, another character who partakes in the deadly Hunger Games.
"The deal was made right before the Fourth of July holiday," one source told E! News.
Hoffman's original announcement to be attached to the series came in early June, when the Hollywood Reporter announced he was up for the Plutarch role, though Liongsate, the production company behind the series, did not confirm or deny the casting.
"Catching Fire" is set to begin production this fall with Lawrence taking on the lead role of Katniss Everdeen. The first installment of the series, "The Hunger Games," recently surpassed the $400 million mark in domestic box office. Gary Ross directed the first film, though the fall installment will be helmed by former music video director Francis Lawrence. The film is set for a November 2013 release, and is the second of three, where "Mockinjay," rounds off the end of the series.
Hoffman's character Plutarch Heavensbee becomes the new Head Gamemaker after the previous one, Seneca, portrayed by Wes Bentley in "The Hunger Games," was killed off at the end of the movie. The dubious character may or may not be loyal to Katniss, who won the previous Hunger Games, or the diabolical President Snow, who will once again be played by Donald Sutherland.
