Casting for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is quite literally heating up. Following the news that Amanda Plummer would be joining the cast of the film as the silent but deadly Wiress, comes news that three major roles have been cast.

It’s being reported that Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman) is in talks to join the cast as Finnick Odair, Melissa Leo (Red State, The Fighter) has been approached to play as Mags, and Tony Shalhoub (Monk, Galaxy Quest) could play Beetee.

The list of remaining roles in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is slowly being crossed off. With Jean Malone playing Joanna Mason and Philip Seymour Hoffman signed on to play Plutarch, director Francis Lawrence still has some major roles to cast for the anticipated sequel.

Lionsgate has confirmed that Amanda Plummer (Pulp Fiction) has signed on for the role of Wiress. According to the press release, the character’s eccentricity earns her the nickname “Nuts” from fellow tributes, and though she doesn’t communicate traditionally, her observations and contributions prove invaluable in the Quarter Quell.

This new tradition of splitting the final film adaptation of a final book is a great way to rake in some box office returns. Of course sometimes cutting it into two parts may have its drawbacks, but fans will return to see how it all ends.

For a long time, we’ve known that The Hunger Games: Mockingjay would be split into two parts. Now thanks to Deadline, we know what the release dates are for the film. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be released on November 22, 2013. Then The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will be released November 21, 2014 while its follow up, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 will be out a year later, November 20, 2015.

The cast for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire continues to grow and many of the casting rumors are being confirmed. We previously reported that Jena Malone has beat out Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki for the role of Johanna Mason. During that time, Philip Seymour Hoffman was rumored to take the role of the new game maker Plutarch Heavensbee.

Well consider that rumor to be confirmed. Hoffman will indeed be playing the part of Heavensbee the new game maker hired for the Third Quarter Quell.

Some Hunger Games purists have complained that Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki are too young to play the role of the sarcastic tribute Johanna Mason. While that may be up for debate, a new name has entered the casting fray.

According to EW, Jena Malone is now one of the frontrunners to play as Johanna. The actress has the right look and appears to be of age of the same character – which should definitely appease fans of the series. Malone was in Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch and can be seen in History Channel miniseries Hatfields & McCoys.