Catching Fire Movie Cast Rumors: Jena Malone in Talks to Play Johanna Mason

Actress Jena Malone arrives for the premiere of television series "Hatfields and McCoys" in Los Angeles(Photo : Reuters)

By Zanub Saeed

Rumors are surfacing regarding casting for the second installment of "The Hunger Games" franchise, "Catching Fire," and the latest story states that former child actress Jena Malone may be up for a pivotal role in the feature, set to begin production later this year.

Malone, who first began acting at the age of 12 in the acclaimed television movie "Bastard out of Carolina," as well as science-fiction drama "Contact," and most recently "Sucker Punch," is in talks to take on the role of Johanna Mason, according to Entertainment Weekly in a report issued Monday.

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The character, like lead Katniss Everdeen before her, portrayed by Academy-Award-nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence, wins the elusive "Hunger Games" in the second book, and becomes a sort of ally to Katniss' character.

At the moment nothing is known further than the fact that Malone is in the running of the Johanna role, according to Entertainment Weekly. The publication also recently confirmed that Mia Wasikowska, most recently seen in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" adaptation in the titular role, was not approached for the role of Johanna, despite rumors going around the internet that she was, and that the actress would not be available for filming the feature later this year anyway.

These are the latest in casting rumors for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." The well-loved character Finnick Odair's casting has been a hot topic, where actors ranging from Robert Pattinson from "The Twilight Saga," Armie Hammer from "The Social Network," Garret Hedlund of "TRON: Legacy" fame, and Taylor Kitsch from "Battleship" and "John Carter" were thought to be in the running, according to E! News.

So far Pattinson and Kitsch have denied taking part in the role, though it is thought that actor Hunter Parrish of ShowTime's "Weeds" may be looking into the role, according to MTV.

Kitsch told The Los Angeles Times in May that his taking part in the role was ""not going to happen."

Lionsgate, the company behind the hit franchise, said that it would not comment, deny or confirm any casting rumors when publications asked.