Lionsgate has confirmed more casting news for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and it’s a big one! Bonafide thesp and Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman will appear in the sequel to the record breaking The Hunger Games.
Hoffman will play the new Head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, a major player in Suzanne Collins’s second and third books in the Hunger Games trilogy. Plutarch replaces Seneca Crane (played by Wes Bentley), Head Gamemaker in the first film. Rebellion is in the air in Catching Fire and Plutarch is an important part of that aspect of the film.
This may not be necessary for the millions of fans of the books, but in case you need a reminder, Lionsgate has provided this synopsis:
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.
Without giving too much away, we think Hoffman is a great choice for Heavensbee. He proves to be a major catalyst in the second book, and his role develops into a leadership position in the third book, Mockingjay. Hoffman has the ability to portray the perfect mix of rebellious authority, while retaining an air of mystery. After all, can Katniss really trust anyone in Panem?
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire wont hit theaters until November 22, 2013. In the meantime, you can catch Philip Seymour Hoffman in Paul Thomas Anderson’s intriguing, cult drama, The Master, in theaters October 12th.
