The late actor played Plutarch Heavensbee in “The Hunger Games” franchise before his 2014 death.

Hunger Games director addresses not casting Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son in Sunrise on the Reaping

The late actor played Plutarch Heavensbee in “The Hunger Games” franchise before his 2014 death.

By Shelby Stivale

August 5, 2026 1:13 p.m. ET

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Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee; Cooper Hoffman. Credit:

Murray Close/Lionsgate; Kevin Winter/Getty

- *Hunger Games *franchise director Francis Lawrence explained why Cooper Hoffman wasn’t cast as Plutarch Heavensbee in *Sunrise on the Reaping*.

- Cooper’s dad Philip Seymour Hoffman played the role prior to his 2014 death at age 46.

- Jesse Plemons was cast as Plutarch for the prequel film.

One major thing stopped *Hunger Games** *director Francis Lawrence from casting Cooper Hoffman as a young Plutarch Heavensbee.

Cooper’s late father Philip Seymour Hoffman originated the role of Head Gamemaker Plutarch in the second *Hunger Games *franchise film *The Hunger Games: Catching Fire*. The character is set to return in the upcoming prequel *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*, but considerably younger. (Fans have estimated the character to be in his 20s in the prequel.)

While it seemed like a no-brainer for 23-year-old Cooper to take on the role, Jesse Plemons was ultimately cast.

“I love to work with people over and over, and Cooper is high on that list,” the director explained to *The Hollywood Reporter* in an interview published on Wednesday. “But we needed someone who felt considerably older than Cooper is.”

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cooper Hoffman in 2013.

James Devaney/FilmMagic

Lawrence directed Cooper in the 2025 movie *The Long Walk* and the filmmaker shared stories about the young actor’s late father. (Philip died at 46 in 2014 following an accidental drug overdose during production on *The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2*, directed by Lawrence.)

“I will say that meeting Cooper the first time [for my film] was very powerful,” Lawrence told *THR*. “To see, and feel, the similarities they both have, it made me emotional.”

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When it was announced last April that Plemons would be taking on the role of Plutarch, *Hunger Games *fans noted the connection between the *Friday Night Lights** *alum and the late Philip.

Plemons played Val Dodd in the 2012 movie *The Master*, the son of Philip’s character, Lancaster Dodd. Lionsgate commented on their past connection in a statement when announcing that Plemons had been cast.

“Jesse is one of the most talented actors of his generation, with a proven record of picking his roles selectively,” Lionsgate President Erin Westerman said at the time. “We are honored that he has chosen to bring his own take to one of the most fascinating figures in Panem, and feel that his previous collaboration with Philip Seymour Hoffman makes it all the more special.”

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Plemons, meanwhile, has admitted he questioned taking on the role.

“I have such respect and admiration for him that it’s a thing that people have said, which doesn’t quite compute to me but is, obviously, really nice to hear,” the actor explained during an October 2025 appearance on the *Happy Sad Confused** *podcast. “I think I just decided, I want to do it. I like the part and I like the script and I like the director and the cast.”

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Source: “EW The”