Philip Seymour Hoffman Dead: What Does The Death Of The ‘Hunger Games’ Actor Mean For Plutarch Heavensbee And The Final Two ‘Mockingjay’ Movies?

On Sunday, Feb. 2, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead of an apparent drug overdose. As the world mourns the death of the 46-year-old Oscar winner, many are wondering about the state of his recent films – like “The Hunger Games” franchise.

For those unfamiliar with the Suzanne Collins series, Hoffman played Plutarch Heavensbee. Hoffman’s character was introduced in the second film, “Catching Fire,” as the successor of Seneca Crane, the Head Gamekeeper for the Hunger Games. In the series, Katniss immediately distrusts Plutarch even though he tries to win her trust by revealing a watch with the mockingjay, the symbol of the rebellion. However by the end of the “Catching Fire,” Katniss discovers that Plutarch is the head of the rebellion against the Capitol.

[WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ‘MOCKINGJAY’ AHEAD]

Last time viewers saw Plutarch, he and Haymitch had used a hovercraft to save Katniss, Finnick and Beetee from The Quarter Quell in “Catching Fire.” In the final book, “Mockingjay,” Plutarch plays a major role in Katniss becoming “the Mockingjay” and helps plan the propaganda to fight the Capitol. At the end of the series President Snow accuses Plutarch and District 13’s President Coin of being part of the plan to kill the Capitol children and Prim … which leads Katniss to murder President Coin. Although Katniss’ fate looks grim after Coin’s murder, Plutarch helps her defense by standing as a witness at her trial. After the war he’s appointed as the Secretary of Communications.

According to IMDB, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1” is in post-production. However “Mockingjay – Part 2” is reportedly in the middle of filming. So, how will Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death affect the final two “Hunger Games” movies?

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Hoffman has “largely wrapped on the ‘Part 1’ shooting” and had seven days of filming remaining for “Part 2.” It’s currently unknown how the studio plans on working in the loss of Philip Seymour Hoffman, but a joint statement on behalf of Jennifer Lawrence, director Francis Lawrence, Suzanne Collins and producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilk was released Sunday afternoon:

“Words cannot convey the devastating loss we are all feeling right now. Philip was a wonderful person and an exceptional talent, and our hearts are breaking. Our deepest thoughts and condolence go out to his family.”

A "Hunger Games" fan Twitter page is reporting that Francis Lawrence and the studio are “confident” that they can finish filming without Hoffman, and that the film’s ending won’t be “substantially changed.” The final two movies are currently still on schedule to be released on Nov. 21, 2014 and Nov. 20, 2015.

Check out how the cast of “The Hunger Games” reacted to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death: