The Return of Dr Lecter

The web has been alive this morning with the sound of speculation about the filming of Hannibal - Thomas Harris's sequel to Silence of the Lambs. Following much humming and hawing, it seems Anthony Hopkins has broken his silence and admitted to having signed to the project. Speaking on Access Hollywood Hopkins confirmed that he would play Lecter and said that he should have a finished script in two or three weeks time. After Jonathan Demme turned down the chance to direct Hannibal (he was apparently concerned about the book's violence) David Mamet was brought in to redo the script and change the ending. Perhaps Mamet's draft will succeed in persuading Jodie Foster to sign on the dotted line - she's been wavering and waiting for a final script to make a decision.