Lionsgate has officially confirmed its first casting for the upcoming “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”.  Philip Seymour Hoffman inked a deal right around last weeks Fourth of July holiday to play Plutarch Heavensbee. 

You can read the full press release from Lionsgate below:

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 75th Annual 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.