Hunger Games Sequel: Academy Award Winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman to Join "Catching Fire"

Phillip Seymour Hoffman poses at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, March 5, 2006. Hoffman won the award for best actor for his role in 'Capote'. (Photo : Phillip Seymour Hoffman poses )

Academy Award Winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman will join the "Hunger Games" sequel "Catching Fire."

Distributor Lionsgate made the announcement Monday and added that Hoffman would play Plutarch Heavensbee, the head gamekeeper of the venerate franchise. His character gets developed in the second film of the series and becomes a major player in the third installment.

There was no word on whether Hoffman would be in the third film, but all indications are that he will be with "Hunger Games" fans for at least two films. 

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Hoffman was recently seen playing the iconic role of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's masterpiece "Death of a Salesman" on Broadway. He will also appear in Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" as a man who launches a religion organization following World War II and play a major role in "A Late Quartet," an indie film about a string quartet that falls apart in the face of adversity.

Hoffman won an Academy Award in 2005 for his turn in "Capote." He was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actor category for his work in 2008's "Doubt" and 2007's "Charlie Wilson's War." His resume also includes the likes of  "Boogie Nights," "Magnolia," "Mission Impossible: III," "Doubt," "Moneyball," "Twister," and "The Big Lebowski."

Francis Lawrence has been hired to direct "Catching Fire" in early May and Lionsgate is planning to shoot the movie starting in the fall for a release on Nov. 22, 2013. "The Hunger Games," the franchise's first installment, was a box office success and grossed $404.3 million in the US and $678.2 worldwide with only a $78 million budget.