Despite circulating rumors that up and comer Mia Wasikowska had the role of Johanna Mason in the bag, it’s said that child actor veteran Jena Malone has her pen in hand to ink a deal that will seal her getting the most coveted role in Catching Fire , which is the sequel in The Hunger Games trilogy.

Jena Malone who’s most famous for her roles in Stepmom and Sucker Punch , is said to be close to finishing the deal, despite earlier reports that every young actress was after the role of Johanna Mason. It was past reported that Zoe Aggeliki also had it in the bag, but that seems to have fallen through.

The role is said to be a key role in the series that will be seen through to the third installment Mockingjay . Johanna Mason is said to be an ax-wielding character with ‘tude, and is a former Hunger Games winner from District 7 who returns to the games with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark for an all-star death match.

Although Mason has the best snarky one liners in the novel, the role also involves a mix of grit and maturity, as Mason’s first scene is stripping out of her tribute costume in order to make Katniss Everdeen uncomfortable.

If the deal goes through Malone joins newly signed Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. New director to Catching Fire , Francis Lawrence is said to start filming with the cast during late September.

Do you think Jena Malone was a good pick for Johanna Mason?