Mahershala Ali cast as Boggs!

We can stop holding our breaths! Today Lionsgate announced that Mahershala Ali has been cast as Boggs!

He's got a pretty awesome resume, having been on shows like The 4400, House of Cards, Treme and Alphas, and the movie The Place Beyond the Pines.

Post by The Hunger Games.

Patina Miller Cast as Paylor

We now have our Paylor! Patina Miller, who won a Tony for her role in Pippin, will play District 8's Commander Paylor.

Post by The Hunger Games.

We're really excited about this announcement, and you should be too. If you remember her role in Mockingjay, along with being there when Katniss goes to District 8, she ends up being very important towards the end of the series.

so its official guys!!! i will be playing Commander Paylor in @TheHungerGames: Mockingjay 1&2!! So incredibly grateful and so excited !
— patina (@patinamiller) September 18, 2013

Go follow her and show her some love!

Mockingjay Casting ICYMI: Annie Cresta and Messalla

Casting announcements for Mockingjay are in full swing. On Monday, we got our Annie Cresta, Australian actress Stef Dawson:

And Tuesday gave us actor and musician Evan Ross. 

Natalie Dormer cast as Cressida for Mockingjay

Whoa guys, we cannot be more psyched about this news! Actress Natalie Dormer has been cast as Cressida. She's known for her roles as Anne Boleyn on The Tudors, Margaery Tyrell on Game of Thrones, and Irene Adler on Elementary.

Press Release:

NATALIE DORMER JOINS CAST OF LIONSGATE’S THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PARTS 1 & 2

SANTA MONICA, CA August 22, 2013 – Lionsgate announced today that Natalie Dormer has joined the cast of THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PARTS 1 & 2 as the character Cressida. 

Dormer currently stars as “Margaery Tyrell” on HBO’s GAME OF THRONES and will be seen in Ron Howard’s RUSH this September, as well as Ridley Scott’s THE COUNSELOR in October. She has also completed production on the indie film POSH.
Dormer is represented by Untitled Entertainment, UTA and United Agents

Thanks to Hunger Games Examiner for the tip!

Catching Fire Cast Revealed!

This is very curious, Lionsgate announced the remaining victors for Catching Fire. Or rather, they whispered it. At least we know who they are! Click the name to check our their IMDB page.

District 5

Boy: James Logan / Girl: Ivette Li-Sanchez

District 6 (Morphlings)

Boy: Justin Hix / Girl: Megan Hayes

District 7

Blight: Bobby Jordan

District 8

Woof: John Casino / Cecilia: Elena Sanchez

District 9

Boy: Daniel Bernhardt / Girl: Marian Green

District 10

Boy: Jackson Spidell / Girl: Tiffany Waxler (remember her?)

and what about the mystery woman? Get ready for disappointment. It's just...

Mrs. Everdeen. *WAH-WAH*

source: Catching Fire Casting

Lionsgate Press Release: Philip Seymour Hoffman Cast as Plutarch

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN CAST AS PLUTARCH HEAVENSBEE IN LIONSGATE’S THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Santa Monica, CA, July 9, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast in the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, Head Gamemaker for The Hunger Games, in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. 

The actor and filmmaker just wrapped a Broadway run as Willy Loman in the revival of “Death of a Salesman” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.  He will next be seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” and the indie film “A Late Quartet” alongside Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken.  More recent films include “Moneyball,” “The Ides of March” and “Jack Goes Boating” which marked Hoffman’s feature directorial debut.

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 75^thAnnual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.  

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Ongoing casting news and information for the film can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com

CASTING FIRE: Jena Malone Offered Johanna Mason!!

Is this fate, or what? According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jena Malone has been offered the role of Johanna Mason, and what do you know they share the same initials!

While many in Hollywood are cutting out early for the holidays, it’s reaping day for Jena Malone.

Malone has the offer and is in early negotiations for the part, according to sources.  The move nixes premature reports that pegged newbie actress-model Zoe Aggeliki as the frontrunner to play the ax-wielding former Hunger Games winner from District 7, who aligns with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) in their return to the arena for an all-stars death match.The Sucker Punch actress is in talks to play snide tribute Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire, a key role that will be reprised in the trilogy’s third installment, Mockingjay.

Source: THR

We are super excited about her being cast, I mean have you SEEN her IMDB page? Not only is she close to Johanna's age, but she has acting credits up the wazoo. Let's hope she accepts!

Johanna Rumors Abound!!

What's new in the rumor mill? Sources say Mia Wasikowska & Zoe Aggeliki may be in the running to play the spunky Johanna Mason. Here's what The Playlist had to say:

Sources close to the project tell The Playlist that Mia Wasikowska and model/actress Zoe Aggeliki are in the mix for Johanna Mason. The character becomes a strong ally with Katniss and Peeta during the 75th Hunger Games, but has a testy relationship with Katniss who likens her to an older sister who hates you. She's a fierce competitor who has no family and friends left in District 7 where she hails, with her weapon of choice being an axe. Director Francis Lawrence is keen on finding the right actress to fit the part, and is looking at both big names and lesser known talents.
Both actresses have been in discussions for the part, and we hear that Aggeliki could sign in the coming days, but nothing is certain just yet. Aggeliki may not be a familiar face at the moment, but she'll be seen next summer in "R.I.P.D." and also landed a role in "Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters" as Silena Beauregard. Whoever does snag the role will not only appear in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" but in "Mockingjay" as well, as Johanna figures strongly in that story as well. Production on 'Catching Fire' begins later this year, and the film will hit theaters on November 22, 2013.

Interesting bit of news, I am glad to see that Lawrence is playing around with both a big name actress and an unknown. Let's see how this plays out, shall we?

Source: The Playlist

RUMOR: Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee?

Oh please let this one be true:

Phillip Seymour Hoffman may have already been offered the role of Plutarch Heavensbee! This has been the first specific casting rumors to come to the party, so it looks like the casting rumor mill is in full swing.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was on the mind of a lot of Hunger Games fans when producers were looking for an actor to play the drunken but eventually endearing mentor Haymitch-- the part that eventually went to Woody Harrelson. But as it turns out, the crew behind the Hunger Games franchise weren't leaving out Hoffman-- they were just biding their time. According to Variety's Jeff Sneider, Hoffman has been offered the role of Plutarch Heavensbee in Catching Fire, the Hunger Games sequel that shoots this fall.

What do you guys think? Would you want Phillip Seymour Hoffman to play Plutarch Heavensbee?

Source: CinemaBlend

#FinnickWatch2012: It's not Taylor Kitsch

#FinnickWatch2012 UPDATE!! Apparently Taylor Kitsch will not be in the running for the role of Finnick in Catching Fire:

"Not going to happen," the 31-year-old actor wrote in an email on Wednesday. Kitsch, who is coming off the poor box office performance of the big-budget films "John Carter" and "Battleship," would seem to have fit the bill for the athletic, good-looking character.
As for "The Lone Ranger" star Hammer and "TRON: Legacy" lead Hedlund, the studio behind the franchise, Lionsgate, said it would not confirm, deny or comment on any casting in progress.

Source: LA Times

Let's hope we get some more developments soon!

UPDATED! Real or Not Real? Finnick Fan Favorites Make it to the Final Rounds

It's quite possible that this may be more than just a rumor, but E! Online reported yesterday that Armie Hammer, Taylor Kitsch, and Garret Hedlund are the top three choices being considered for the highly coveted role of Finnick Odair. Here's what E! Online had to say:

A source tells us at that the top three names being bantered about right now are Armie Hammer, Taylor Kitsch and Garrett Hedlund.
The source also says that a final decision from the studio may be announced as early as this week.
However, another source says the studio may also be looking at unknowns à la Brad Pitt in Thelma & Louise.
Filming is scheduled to begin in the fall with Francis Lawrence taking over the directing reigns from Gary Ross.
Catching Fire will be released on Nov. 22, 2013.

Read the full article HERE 

If this indeed is true, I would have to give an enormous round of applause to Lionsgate and those listening to fan choices for Finnick. Taylor Kitsch I've heard been mentioned among fans, but over the past year, at least in our experience, the battle for the role of Finnick has always been between Armie Hammer and Garret Hedlund. Both near perfect choices in my opinion, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Who knows? Maybe it's neither and Taylor Kitsch will come out on top. OR, as E! Online has reported, perhaps they really are looking for an unknown!

 UPDATED!! Zap2it is reporting that they are still auditioning for the role, and the three actors are not the only ones being considered. We figured as much, just because Lionsgate may be eyeing the three actors mentioned above, doesn't mean they aren't considering others, and like E! Online said, they are indeed considering an unknown, at least according to these two articles.

Here's what Zap2it had to say:

E! Online reports that Kitsch, Hammer and Hedlund are the names Lionsgate wants, but Zap2it's source says nobody's in the lead just yet considering talks only began on Tuesday (May 29). Actors are still reading for the role, and the studio is strongly considering bringing in an unknown to avoid ego clashes on set. It's easy to understand the mix-up -- someone probably got their hands on the confidential memo going around that reveals the three men are currently on the shortlist of dudes we'd love to marry in a fantasy dream world. (Honestly, any list with those three guys on it is a win-win-win situation.)

The scenes the actors are reportedly reading for the role include the sugar cube scene where Finnick first meets Katniss and the scene where he hears Annie's scream.

 Read the full article HERE

Well how 'bout that?! A little tidbit of new information on how exactly the Finnick auditions are going as well.

Whatever the case, if all this truly is real, my mind has exploded knowing that the studio is actually considering the actors that the fans have been clamoring for. Real or Not Real?

Finding Finnick Odair: Armie Hammer

I've decided to weigh in on the Armie Hammer for Finnick Odair debate. Finnick is such a beloved character in the series that I'm confident he will be tougher to cast than even Katniss was. Personally, I have two Finnicks in my head: Garrett Hedlund (who we might talk about later) and Armie Hammer.

Check out my thoughts and the thoughts of other fansite runners after the cut!