Cohen "Catching Fire" As Mags

Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate has announced that Lynn Cohen has been cast in the role of Mags in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire".

The story begins as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence)  has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). 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 (Donald Sutherland) prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.

In the story Mags is an eighty year old Hunger Games victor from District 4 and a former mentor to Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin). Melissa Leo was up for the role at one point.

"Slumdog Millionaire" scribe Simon Beaufoy had signed on to originally go ahead and adapt author Suzanne Collins' next novel in the series a while back when Gary Ross was attached to direct. Since Francis Lawrence has replaced Ross, a new script was commissioned.

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, the new Gamemaker at the Capitol after Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) was executed. Plutarch is a far savvier political animal and plays a crucial role in the events of Catching Fire. Jena Malone has won the role to play the strong-willed tribute Johanna Mason. Amanda Plummer will play Wiress who has the nickname “Nuts” due to her eccentricity--she “doesn’t communicate traditionally, her observations and contributions prove invaluable in the Quarter” (aka the 75th Hunger Games) ceremony though. Tony Shalhoub plays the inventor Volts.

Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland are expected to return.

Things need to move at a quickend pace since Catching Fire already has a set release date of Nov. 22, 2013, and needs to finish shooting by December so that Lawrence can start work on Fox's X-Men: Days Of Future Past in January

After that plans are afoot for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1/ The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 Part 1 opens November 21st 2014 while Part 2 hits November 20th 2015.