Deadline New York reports that Hoffman has been offered the role of Plutarch Heavensbee.
By Kevin P. Sullivan

Philip Seymour Hoffman
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Fans looking forward to next year's "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" have eagerly been waiting for the next rumor of a hot young actor joining the cast. Talk about Garrett Hedlund, Armie Hammer and Taylor Kitsch had tributes nearly swooning, but a new report suggests that a very different actor may be considering an offer.

On Monday, Deadline New York ran a report announcing Philip Seymour Hoffman's departure from his talent agency, Paradigm. Near the bottom of the post, it casually mentions that Hoffman has been offered the role of Plutarch Heavensbee in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

For those unfamiliar with Suzanne Collins' books, Heavensbee replaces the dearly departed Seneca Crane as Head Gamemaker after his predecessor has a run-in with a bowl of nightlock berries.

If Hoffman takes the role, he would appear in the next two films in the "Hunger Games" series, since Plutarch's role expands to the third book, "Mockingjay."

This is the first talk about potential casting for the role of Plutarch Heavensbee. Almost all of the scuttlebutt around the film's next casting has been intensely focused on one character, Finnick Odair.

An early report from E! Online indicated that Hedlund, Hammer and Kitsch were all on a short list for the fan-favorite character, but after Kitsch denied any involvement and a producer claimed to not have a short list at all, it seems like we are no closer to a Finnick for now.

Coming up next for Hoffman, there's the October release of Paul Thomas Anderson's next film, "The Master," in which he will play the founder of a new religion reportedly based on Scientology.

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

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