Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of the latest actors to be added to the Hunger Games franchise roster. Hoffman will play Plutarch Heavensbee in the next movie, Catching Fire.
Hoffman wasn’t initially familiar with the immensely popular series by Suzanne Collins. The actor watched the first movie and has started reading the books as well. He told Entertainment Weekly, “I’ve read the script, which is true to the book—I kinda ruined it for myself. But I’m reading it anyway, because I really want to find out everything I need to know about this guy.”
Hoffman is eager to join cast mates Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, and Josh Hutcherson. “It’s a great group of actors,” he said. “It’s a great environment. And the character was something I was attracted to. It was just an interesting role. He’s somebody who’s part of the revolution, but you don’t know it. The idea that somebody would be risking themselves in such an extreme way to join something that’s that dangerous because he thinks it’s the future…that’s interesting stuff, you know?”
Although Hoffman is more well-known for smaller films like The Ides of March and Capote, he’s not too concerned that this prestigious role will change things for him. “Things always pass over, you know?” he said. “I don’t know what it will be like. But, you know, I’m not playing Katniss. I’m not in high-profile movies in that way too often, so it usually passes. I’m 45. I think it will be all right.”
Catching Fire is set to be released in November 2013.
