There is some new The Hunger Games: Catching Fire casting news to report as the film begins prepping for the start of production.  Lionsgate and director Francis Lawrence is reportedly eyeing two actresses for the role of Johanna Mason: Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki.  The former has been around a while with screen credits that include Alice in Wonderland and Albert Nobbs.  Aggeliki on the other hand has only had one role to date in the form of Robert Schwentke’s R.I.P.D. which is currently in the post-production phase.  Be warned though that these are just two of the actresses being targeted for the role.

For those of you who need a quick recap who this character is, here is an excerpt pulled from Hunger Games Wiki:

In her original Hunger Games, Johanna pretended to be a weakling, feigning hunger and fatigue, when in reality she was sly and cunning, described by Katniss as having a “wicked ability to murder”. Johanna is proficient with axes, as she comes from District 7, where the main industry is lumber. It is hinted in Catching Fire that all of Johanna’s loved ones were killed by President Snow and the Capitol after her Games, as she tells Katniss that there is “no one left [she] loves.” This is then confirmed in Mockingjay by Finnick Odair.

It is interesting that the biography would mention Odair at the end as that is another big role being cast for Catching Fire.  The presumed frontrunners last we heard were Garrett Hudland (Tron: Legacy) and Armie Hammer (The Social Network) after Taylor Kitsch backed out of the running because of a conflicting project.  There has been no update on that one, nor any news in regards to Plutarch Heavensbee after Philip Seymour Hoffman presumably declined the role.

Look for more on The Hunger Games: Catch Fire casting soon as shooting will likely be finished six months from now.

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