A New Tribute Volunteers for ‘Catching Fire’: Jena Malone

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been keeping a sharp eye out for new Catching Fire news. As a fan of The Hunger Games, it’s important that the right people sign on for the next installment. For instance – I really SERIOUSLY don’t want Robert Pattinson anywhere near the role of Finnick Odair, or any other character from Catching Fire. I’m praying that his involvement was just a stupid rumor from those annoying Twilight obsessed people. But while the hot guy with a heart has yet to be cast, we do have one character we can put a face on – Johanna Mason.

If you’ve read the books then you recognize that name. Johanna Mason is one of the tributes called back into the Hunger Games during the Quarter Quell, a special game that is held every 25 years to exact a new torture on the downtrodden Districts. The year after Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark win their controversial double victory, it is announced that two victors from each District must return to the Games to once again fight for their lives. Johanna Mason comes from District 7, known for it’s lumber production, which means that she’s handy with an axe. She’s also known for talking tough and getting naked – during one scene she strips in an elevator next to Katniss, making our heroine incredibly uncomfortable. Mason’s strategy of appearing weak and then killing with vicious ease is also well known throughout the Districts, and makes her a formidable opponent in the Games. She also has an important (and difficult) role in the next movie, Mockingjay.

All of this adds up to a character that is in need of a strong actress to bring her to life. And according to THR, that actress is Jena Malone. The reports say that she was chosen out of the many different candidates and is currently in “early negotiations” for the role. I suppose that means they’re still working out the details of money and signing her on for both Catching Fire and Mockingjay, because no one in their right mind would turn down a role in this popular franchise. Philip Seymour Hoffman is signed on as Plutarch Heavensbee – the new Head Gamemaker for the Quarter Quell. He and Ms. Malone will join the already stellar cast of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth.

I like Jena Malone in the role, mostly because I’m a fan of some of her other movies. She’s appeared in Pride and Prejudice, Contact, Donnie Darko, and Into the Wild. My personal favorite is Saved!, where she plays a good Christian girl who gets pregnant when she tries to “straighten” out her gay boyfriend. She proves that she can speak her mind when she fights the other “holier than thou” people who turn against her. Another role that might help her channel Johanna Mason is her turn as Rocket in Sucker Punch. While the movie didn’t do so well at the box office, it still proves that she can put her ass-kicking boots on. Let’s hope she’s wearing them when she throws an axe into her enemies during Catching Fire.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is being directed by Francis Lawrence and is set to be released in 2013. What do you think of Jena Malone joining the cast? Are you happy about it or do you think someone else could do better?