Following up to our coverage on casting for the second installment of The Hunger Games films, Catching Fire, we last heard that Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) was the frontrunner to play the coveted role of Finnick Odair and brought you news that Tony Shaloub would play BeeTee and that Amanda Plummer had been cast as Wiress.

According to Deadline, Claflin is closing in on securing the role of the trident-wielding Finnick. Claflin had scheduling issues that had previously prevented him from accepting the role and those issues seem to have since been cleared away. A formal announcement could be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, Lionsgate has announced that Lynn Cohen (They Came Together, Munich) has been cast in the role of Mags, a former mentor to Finnick Odair and was a Hunger Games victor herself from District 4.

 Synopsis:

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

This installment will be directed by Francis Lawrence and 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.