With the immense success of this yearâs The Hunger Games both critically and commercially, all eyes are on how new director Francis Lawrence will handled the follow-up, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The film is slated to begin production in a few short months, and there are a number of new characters from Suzanne Collinsâ second entry in The Hunger Games franchise that will be popping up. Probably the two most important new additions are Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason. We previously heard some iffy rumors regarding actors being considered for the former, but now two intriguing names have popped up as possibilities for the Johanna role: Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki. Hit the jump for more. Possible minor spoilers for Catching Fire may follow.In order to describe the character of Johanna, Iâm gonna have to get into some possible minor spoiler territory for those who havenât read Catching Fire: thereâs another Hunger Games. In all likeliehood, this isnât a spoiler. Lionsgate will probably be using some of the action oriented scenes from the games in the trailers for Catching Fire, as there arenât many âsplosions and fight sequences in the first half of the book. Moreover, the games play only a small part in the context of the larger issues that Katniss has to confront in the story.Johanna is a fierce competitor in the 75th Hunger Games who becomes Katnissâ ally. Sheâs sarcastic and quite contentious, and her relationship with Katniss is more akin to a younger sister/older sister rapport. She plays an important role not only in Catching Fire but also in the third and final installment of Collinsâ series, Mockingjay, so it goes without saying that casting Johanna is a pretty big deal.Sources tell The Playlist that both Wasikowska and Aggeliki are âin the mixâ for the Johanna part, as Lawrence is said to be considering both big names and lesser talents. The Playlist was the first outlet to report that Gary Ross wouldnât be returning to direct Catching Fire, so Iâm inclined to put considerable weight behind their story. Wasikowska is an exciting prospect as sheâs done swell work in films like Jane Eyre and The Kids Are All Right, but Aggeliki is a bona fide newcomer. She has roles in the upcoming pics R.I.P.D. and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, but we havenât seen her act in anything yet so itâs hard to gauge who would be a better pick for Johanna.The Playlist adds that both actresses have been in discussions for the part, but Aggeliki could officially sign on in a matter of days. That said, nothingâs certain just yet so Lawrenceâs final choice could be someone else entirely. We should hear word soon either way, as production is scheduled to begin immenintley. We haven't heard anything solid regarding the Finnick role, but my personal pick would be either the previously rumored Garret Hedlund or Weeds star Hunter Parrish. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens on November 22nd, 2013.
Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki in the Mix to Play Johanna in THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki Up for Role in THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE. Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki are up for Johanna in Catching Fire.