Confirming a rather poorly kept secret, Lionsgate announced on Monday (July 9) that Philip Seymour Hoffman has officially been cast as Plutarch Heavensbee in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”
In Suzanne Collins’ “Catching Fire,” Heavensbee is announced as the new Hunger Games Head Gamemaker, replacing Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley). As you might guess from the addition of an Oscar-winning actor in the role, Plutarch Heavensbee is not unimportant.
Last week, Jena Malone was offered one of the other plum “Catching Fire” roles, playing tribute Johanna Mason.
A recent Tony nominee for “Death of a Salesman,” Hoffman won his Oscar for “Capote” and earned subsequent nominations for “Charlie Wilson’s War” and “Doubt.”
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will be directed by Francis Lawrence (“I Am Legend”) and is set for release on November 22, 2013.
The first “Hunger Games” film took in over $400 million at the domestic box office and $678 million worldwide.