Lionsgate announced Monday that the odds are in the favor for Philip Seymour Hoffman, who will play Plutarch Heavensbee in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in a press release.

The Oscar winner reportedly said yes to the role of Heavensbee, who takes over as Head Gamemaker after the murder of Seneca Crane, which took place in the first film adaption of the bestselling "Hunger Games" novel, written by Suzanne Collins.

According to the Examiner, production for the movie is expected to begin this late summer or early fall. Some tributes are still waiting to be casted.

Last week, Jena Malone is confirmed to play the role of Johanna Mason in "Catching Fire."

According to Entertainment Weekly and Hollywood Reporter, Malone has the offer and is in the early negotiations for the part. Earlier, rumors of actresses Zoe Aggeliki and Mia Wasikowska were said to be in the running for the role of Johanna, the character in the Catching Fire novel from District 7, but Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that Wasikowska had not been approached for the role, and Aggeliki will not be doing it.

Also last week, it was reported that "90210" actor Trevor Donovan will not play District 4's Finnick Odair. According to a post from "Teen Daily" this Friday morning, the star revealed in a post on Facebook that the odds are not in his favor to play the part of the handsome, trident-wielding tribute, the Examiner reported.

The downcast actor recently took to Facebook to break the bad news. However, he added that he bears no ill will toward the franchise and will always remain a fan of Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel-into-film trilogy.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" will capture the rebellions under way against the Capitol after Katniss and Peeta won the latest round of the Hunger Games. But that's not the only upheaval. Katniss and Peeta must enter the Quarter Quell, the 75^th Annual Hunger Games, another deadly event that the Capitol has put together.

Heavensbee is actually the leader of the rebellion, much to Katniss' surprise. He comes to the Clock Arena in a hovercraft and saves her, Finnick and Beetee after a plan of his making removed the Capitol force field, according to thehungergames.wikia.com. He had already been involved in an undercover group for several years now that was aiming to overthrow the Capitol.

Hoffman will join the lead cast in "The Hunger Games:Catching Fire" - Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne. The film will be directed by Francis Lawrence.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" will be released November 22, 2013.