Philip Seymour Hoffman to join the cast of Hunger Games

Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman has been in critically acclaimed films such as The Big Lebowski, Doubt, Capote, and Charlie Wilson's War. The actor's next project, though, will be the second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy.

As of today, Lionsgate has officially announced that Philip Seymour Hoffman will be joining the cast of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. According to Entertainment Weekly, Hoffman will be starring as Plutarch Heavensbee, the new Head Gamemaker. The novel-turned-movie series has sparked a Twilight-like craze amongst young adults and single mothers alike, so it is no surprise that Lionsgate is pulling out all the stops when it comes to casting. Confirmed cast members include star-studded names like Oscar nominees Jennifer Lawrence and Woody Harrelson, two-time Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland, and Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz. The movie will be under direction by Water for Elephant's director Francis Lawrence, who was officially signed onto Catching Fire in early May. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set to release in November of 2013 and production is beginning this month.