Santa Monica, CA, July 23, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES:CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Jena Malone has been cast in the role of Johanna Mason in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. Johanna Mason is a female victor from a past Games still in her early twenties, and is one of the youngest, but also one of the most psychologically scarred Quarter Quell participants.
Malone recently starred opposite Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton in the History Channel’s Emmy® nominated mini-series Hatfields & McCoys. The mini-series broke cable records and is the new most-watched entertainment telecast of all time on cable. Her additional credits include Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch, Oren Moverman’s The Messenger, and Sean Penn’s Into the Wild. She will soon begin production on Lonely Hunter. She is repped by Gersh and attorney Bob Wallerstein.
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.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.
Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.
(Photo: Getty Images)



Fuckity fuck fuck. You fucked up, Lionsgate. The ONLY woman who could have played Johanna with quality to spare is Kristen Bell. This is a huge minus, no getting around it.
I agree, really wanted Kristen to get this part.
Kristen Bell didn’t fit the role at all. Not even the slightest bit. This is good casting.
Kristen Bell is in her early thirties. The character is supposed to be in her early TWENTIES…
Huge Bell fan and I would even admit that she WOULD NOT fit as Mason. Have you read the book? Would Bell be the beautiful crazy lunatic that Malone could be?
Malone will be a perfect Mason.
Anyone else wonder if the rumors that this part was going to that pillowy-lipped 18 year old were a ruse so people would hope for Jena instead?
She’d not my first choice, but hell, lesser of two evils.
I could not agree more. Maybe its the whole crazy Ellefrom heroes thing that makes her the best choice!!
Craptastic casting continues I see. I had so much hope for this series. Now let them announce Claflin as Finnick to cap it all off.
“Crapasting casting” ?!
Philip Seymour Hoffman won multiple acting awards including an Academy Award for Best Actor. He received another two Academy Award nominations for his supporting work in Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) and Doubt (2008).
Amanda Plummer won a Tony Award nomination and Theatre World Award for A Taste of Honey. The following year, she won a Tony Award for Featured Actress and a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of Sister Agnes in the play Agnes of God.
In 1997, Jena Malone was nominated for a Golden Globe, Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie, for her role in Hope.
I’m sorry but it’s NOT a “crapasting casting”!!!!!!
Sorry, I mean ‘’Craptastic’’
Kristen Bell is too sugary. They needed someone with an edge. I think Jenna Malone will be great.
Love this choice — bravo!
Well at least it’s not Kristen Bell. Thank you Lionsgate. I can’t say anything about Johanna Mason because I never saw her in anything. We have to wait for the first trailer to see how she will look.
Let’s see in book 2, JM has to be basically a touch of psycho and very PO’d to be helping Katniss and it seems constantly fighting herself not to kill her. Then in next book, you kind of feel sorry for JM. After watching Sucker Punch and the Hatfields I think Jena M be perfect for the role. I don’t understand why that pillowy-lipped unknown was in the final two. Well maybe the decision makers do, hope it was good for all parties involved to be announced as a finalist…
And you do realize that both Finnick and Johanna are relatively recent winners, so they are going to be in their early to mid 20s. Fans of the novels would be PO’d for casting an older actress, since Johanna won only a few years earlier by appearing weak.
Nooooo! Poor, Poor choice. Terrible pick! Jena Malone is not near attractive enough to play Johanna Mason. Bad, bad casting!
Why does everything have to be about how attractive some one is? She is a beautiful women, doesn’t need to be some sex symbol to play a badass. She is perfect for the role.
I hope they do well casting Finnick. This will be an important choice. And though he is in his 20′s, let’s not forget how much he’s been through emotionally, so casting an actor a bit older to reflect this would be appropriate.
The Hunger Games movies have the best cast in Hollywood- hands down.
I was really hoping Naya Rivera would get cast for that role; that’s who I’d pictured but with Glee fliming/throughout September there would be no way.