Lionsgate has been casting up a storm for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ahead of production which is set to begin this fall. Recent months have seen the Francis Lawrence-directed film add Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch and Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, but today sees news that the studio has confirmed the addition of Lynn Cohen as Finnick mentor Mags.
In that regards, there is still the wide open role of Finnick Odair to be filled which has apparently been casting for a while now. Deadline is among those suggesting that the role will now surely go to Sam Claflin as the actor has had studio options limit his ability to sign on earlier. More specifically, possibly ones held by Disney and Universal for Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and Snow White and the Huntsman 2. In a way, that validates delays for both projects in the pipeline which nobody really expected to start production this fall anyways.
Here is the press release from Lionsgate announcing Lynn Cohen:
Santa Monica, CA, August 2, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Lynn Cohen has been cast in the role of Mags in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. A former mentor to Finnick Odair, Mags is an eighty year old Hunger Games victor from District 4.
Known to New York theater audiences for decades of memorable roles, Cohen has also appeared in critically acclaimed films such as Steven Spielberg’s Munich and Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, NY, as well as commercial fare such as Sex and The City and its sequel. She can next be seen in They Came Together, with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.
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 sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone.
Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.