Jena Malone Has Landed The Role Of Johanna Mason In ‘Catching Fire’

Update 7/23: Lionsgate has formally announced Jena Malone in the role of Johanna Mason.

For fuck's sake, thank God they finally chose someone. Almost! After we first reported that Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki were in the mix for the role of Johanna Mason in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," it seemed subsequent updates started to drip out, like some kind of slow Chinese water torture. First there was the news that Jena Malone was in the hunt, then the update that the role was going to be going Aggeliki's way (we were also told she was Francis Lawrence's choice), but it appears nobody knows nothing.

THR reports that Jena Malone has been "chosen" and is now in talks for the part, and should this all work out, it guarantees her a slot not only in 'Catching Fire' but in the final "Mockingjay" as well. To recap, Johanna Malone becomes a strong ally to 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 from where she hails, with her weapon of choice being an axe. This is a rare tentpole move for the actress, but it should probably work out much better than "Sucker Punch" did.

Casting on Finnick Odair and Plutarch Heavensbee (in the future, people have stupid names apparently) still has to happen, but there's still time for that, as filming is not slated to get underway until the end of the summer/early fall.