To get the pun out of the way: The casting of the main roles in The Hunger Games sequel is catching fire. Sorry, but the very agreeable level of talent being involved lent itself to that one.

We already heard that Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote), an Academy Award winner and fine actor if there ever was one, has joined the cast as Plutarch Heavensbee. Next there were rumors and ramblings about which hunky actor on the rise would play Finnick Odair still with no final results.

According to EW, Jena Malone (Hatfields & McCoys) is in negotiations to play the role of tribute Johanna Mason. We reported earlier, that Zoe Aggeliki and Mia Wasikowska were the frontrunners for the part, although the studio denies being in negotiations with the latter.

The role sounds enticing enough. Mason is a former Games winner, who survived by pretending to be weak and fragile. She is the opposite: In the books she is described as possessing a wicked ability to murder.

Also in the mix for an unspecified role is former WWE wrestler Kevin Nash, who told USA Today about his modest aspirations for his role:

I just pray it’s recurring, that he doesn’t get killed

The role of Effie Trinket was already cast very appropriately with Elizabeth Banks in the first part, although it didnt that much screen time. Banks will be back for the sequel of course, and shared a little something with Aint It Cool News about how her character has evolved since Katniss and Peeta won the Games.

She has winners, but you know the great thing about Effie is that Effie is no fool. She really understands that her fate is tied to Katniss and Peetas fate. And I think she thinks is an injustice when they get called back into the games, because she was riding high on their success, and I also think that she’s very aware of Katnisss effect on the world around her and I think its going to be really interesting to see how that plays out for Effie, and Effies approval or disapproval of where thats going.

All in all, the measure of excitement for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

seems built on solid ground. There is an already pretty great cast ( Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lawrence being personal favorites), with a high possibility of strong additions (Philip Seymour Hoffman being a great first one). Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend), the director, is a solid choice too.

May those odds be forever in our favor… (and not another !)