Jena Malone has apparently been offered a coveted role in the next Hunger Games movie.

The 27-year-old actress - whose film credits include Into The Wild and Sucker Punch - has been asked to play Johanna Mason in Catching Fire and is currently in negotiations about the part, according to The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog.

The character is one of the teens forced to enter a fight to the death alongside Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) in a specially constructed arena.

It had previously been reported that actress and model Zoe Aggeliki was tipped to play Johanna, who also features in the third instalment in the series, Mockingjay.

Catching Fire will be directed by Francis Lawrence and is due to start shooting in September.