John Carter of...Panem?!

With The Hunger Games: Catching Fire officially set for the title, along with the new director and co-writer, the sequel seems to be on track to meet that eventual fall production start rather nicely. But the one question on fans minds happens to be a highly recurring one: which Hollywood actor will sign up to play the role of Finnick? A major player in two of the three novels, the character is certainly a coveted one that fans have been dream-casting since the first film became a reality. Now, a report claims that three major Hollywood stars are all up for the role, and a decision could be coming sooner rather than later.

E! Online reports that a source claims the three men in the running for Finnick are actors Armie Hammer (The Social Network), Taylor Kitsch (John Carter), and Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy). However, another source also says that Lionsgate may be looking to cast an unknown in the role if the asking price is too much for the other three men, and are ultimately weighing their options. Robert Pattinson had publicly announced this weekend that he wouldn’t be in the running at all, successfully closing the door on the popular rumor.

One of the sources also says a decision on who will play Finnick could come as early as sometime this week, though it has yet to be confirmed. While a relative unknown may work in the role, it’s likely that Lionsgate will be more generous with the budget this time arund after the returns of The Hunger Games, and are willing to shell out for a bigger name if it means much more starpower.

In the novels, Finnick is a 24 year old victor of The Hunger Games who won the 65th outing of the titular fight ot the death when he was 14. Due to a twist thanks to the next Hunger Games being a part of “a quarter quell”, the next fight has the misfortune of casting previous victors of the games into the annual bloodbath. Finnick is chosen along with volunteer 80 year old Mags for District 4, while Katniss and Peeta will return to the place where they showmanced it up in the last film.

Lionsgate failed to confirm nor deny on the casting rumors, as they similarly did with the first movie.

Francis Lawrence will be taking over directorial duties onCatching Fire, which is aiming for a fall production start, and will be based off of a script from Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) and Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3). Training for the principal actors returning for the film is expected to start later this summer.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, and Lenny Kravitz, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set for a release on November 22nd, 2013.