It looks like one of Hollywood’s finest actors has gotten bit by the blockbuster bug once again. Philip Seymour Hoffman, who last made a rare appearance in the big-budget world with Mission: Impossible III has officially signed on to The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, E! News reports. The actor was rumored for this major role of Plutarch Heavensbee around a month ago, but now sources say it was a done deal right before the July 4th weekend.

Directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Water For Elephants), Hoffman’s character is the gamemaker who replaces Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) as leader of that group and interacts with Jennifer Lawrence‘s Katniss Everdeen. This can perhaps be a spoiler, but in the final film, Mockingjay, he will have an even bigger role.

With I enjoyed The Hunger Games, it’s somewhat of a surprise to see this actor take a supporting part in such a major film, but I’ll never complain about Hoffman getting more exposure. He’ll next be seen in two of my most-anticipated films, Paul Thomas Anderson‘s The Master and Anton Corbijn‘s A Most Wanted Man.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire arrives November 2013.

Update: Lionsgate has confirmed the casting via a press release below.

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN CAST AS PLUTARCH HEAVENSBEE IN LIONSGATE’S THE
HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Santa Monica, CA, July 9, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast in the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, Head Gamemaker for The Hunger Games, in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire.

The actor and filmmaker just wrapped a Broadway run as Willy Loman in the revival of “Death of a Salesman” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. He will next be seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” and the indie film “A Late Quartet” alongside Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken. More recent films include “Moneyball,” “The Ides of March” and “Jack Goes Boating” which marked Hoffman’s feature directorial debut.

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 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.