Anthony Hopkins To Play Hannibal Lecter In New Film

Sir Anthony Hopkins is to play Hannibal Lecter again.

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The 71-year-old actor - who starred in 'The Silence of the Lambs', 'Hannibal' and most recently 2002's 'Red Dragon' - will reprise his role as the cannibalistic serial killer for a fourth time in the upcoming horror directed by Sir Ridley Scott.

A spokeswoman from film-makers Universal said: "Sir Anthony Hopkins and director Ridley Scott are both very committed. We like what we've got, and the revised script is really, really good."

However, Hollywood actress Jodie Foster, 46 - who starred alongside Hopkins in the original 1991 thriller - will reportedly be absent from the latest installment.

A film source said: "We've decided that we're not going to reapproach Jodie. We are trying to come up with the right lead to replace Jodie and are putting together a list of candidates."

It has been reported Cate Blanchett has been lined up to star alongside the Hollywood veteran instead.

Movie insiders are convinced the film will be a huge success.

Another source told the New York Post newspaper: "I think Hopkins' involvement raises the quality of the film considerably. Cate is a very respected actress, and she's obviously been in the industry for a long time. In terms of pedigree, Cate would probably bring as much to the film as Foster did."