With a fall production start date looming, Lionsgate is busy casting for The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, helmed by Francis Lawrence (Constantine, I Am Legend). Last week, there was quite a buzz about who would play the trident-wielding Finnick Odair but alas, no confirmation of casting was announced.

This week, Deadline reports that an offer has been made to Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master, Mission: Impossible III) for the major role of Plutarch Heavensbee, the Head Gamemaker that fills Seneca Crane’s shoes in the second book of the best-selling book trilogy and who has an even more significant role in the third book, Mockingjay. Hoffman has just left Paradigm, his agency of eighteen years, and is expected to go agentless for the meantime. Hoffman has not accepted the role yet.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is slated to hit theaters on November 22nd, 2013.