It’s the announcement that fans have been waiting months to hear and now it’s official! Lionsgate has signed British actor Sam Claflin to play Hollywood’s envious role of Finnick Odair in the sequel ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.’

Claflin (‘Snow White and the Huntsman,’ ‘Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides’) had been rumored as already having the role but a conflict with an option owed to another studio posed some scheduling problems. Apparently that has now been cleared and Lionsgate was able to make the announcement official with a press release.

Many young Hollywood actors were either up for the role (Ben Walker, Boyd Holbrook and Tyler Hoechlin) or rumored to be (Taylor Kitsch, Armie Hammer, and Garrett Hedlund) but it was Claflin who took the gold and for good reason too, as Claflin seems perfect for the role.

With the help of his mentor, Mags, Odair (a District 4 Tribute) won the 65 Hunger Games and was reaped to fight in the Quarter Quell. He is adept with a net and the Trident without giving away any spoilers, plays and important role in ‘The Hunger Games’ sequel as well as in the final installment of the book series (which will be adapted into 2 movies).

This completes the Tribute casting news and filming will now commence in the next few weeks.

Now that the news is official, are you happy about Claflin joining the cast or did you have your heart set on someone else?

‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ will be directed by Francis Lawrence and is currently set for release on November 22, 2013.