Remember a rumor alleging that Mia Wasikowska and Zoe Aggeliki were contenders for Catching Fire? We can go and throw it right out, since EW now reports that Jena Malone is the top choice to play Johanna Mason for Francis Lawrence — and, what’s more, they also claim the rising actress (and, I’d guess, the model) have never been approached for the part.

Mason was already described as an axe-enabled District 7 warrior who bonds with Katniss and Peeta, despite also contending with them over proper survival methods; EW’s description, however, actually makes her sound far more dangerous and thrilling. Now, you figure any survivor of this contest can take a life without much hesitation, but Suzanne Collins says she has “a wicked ability to murder,” and can come out on top “by pretending to be weak and then picking off the other tributes.”

The movie’s inevitable PG-13 rating notwithstanding, Johanna Mason could be something of a big break for Malone, one who’s often (though not always) wont to play clean-cut, passive character types. That’s nice enough, but it’d actually be nicer for this actress — who I’m really quite fond of, all things considered — to get the sort of career boost she’s been oddly lacking up until this point. (Whereas I wanted Wasikowska to turn this down and simply continue with the path she’s taken, this is a part Malone could really benefit from grabbing.) For better or for worse, I’d bet she’s officially signed in no time.

Here’s something a little less solid and, of course, surrounded by more questions: Buried in a USA Today story pertaining to Magic Mike, wrestler-turned-actor Kevin Nash says he’s “in talks” to appear in Catching Fire. By playing who? Oh, we haven’t actually been told. He just hopes “it’s recurring, [and] that he doesn’t get killed.” Make of this whatever you’d like.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will hit on November 22nd, 2013.

Would Malone be a smart choice for this part? Is Kevin Nash a viable candidate?