Jena Malone in the running for Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is swiftly becoming a hotbed of casting rumours, with seemingly every hot young Hollywood star linked to at least one of the roles, before a new name crops up to take their place.

Earlier this week, we brought you the rumour that Mia Wasikowska was in line for the role of Johanna Mason, but now EW is claiming to have gleaned confirmation that the Australian has not been approached and would not be available in any case.

However, Lionsgate have got their eyes on potential candidates, with Jena Malone thought to be among the favourites to take the role. She's said to be in contention with Zoe Aggeliki, a model who can soon be seen opposite Elijah Wood in horror remake, Maniac .

Johanna Mason is a former tribute who returns to the Hunger Games arena when the past winners are forced into a kind of greatest hits edition of the bloodthirsty contest. Described as having, "a wicked ability to murder", Mason won her edition of the contest by playing possum and picking off her unsuspecting rivals one by one. Sneaky.

We'll be interested to know whether director Francis Lawrence preserves her grand entrance, in which she appears in front of Katniss stark naked, save for a pair of slippers. We'd suggest some creative camerawork to avoid getting the censors in a lather…

Catching Fire opens in the UK on 22 November 2013, giving Lionsgate little room for manoeuvre if they're to hit their proposed deadline. Expect some confirmed casting as a result, sooner rather than later...

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.

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