As we reported to you earlier this month, Jena Malone (Hatfields & McCoys, Sucker Punch) beat out model/actress Zoe Aggeliki (R.I.P.D., Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) and other actresses for the crucial part of Johanna Mason in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. Last we heard, Malone was in negotiations to play the role.

According to Variety, the casting is now official as Lionsgate announced Malone as the ax-wielding Johanna Mason, a previous winner of the Hunger Games for Catching Fire. Casting is slowly but surely rounding out the players of the story especially with last week’s announcements for Amanda Plummer (Strangely in Love, Pulp Fiction) as Wiress and Tony Shaloub (Pain and Gain, Monk) as Beetee. Filming is to begin in September.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is slated to hit theaters on November 22nd, 2013. Mockingjay: Part 1 will be released on November 21, 2014 and Part 2 on November 20, 2015.