Hopkins, RUSH HOUR director in talks for HANNIBAL prequel

Both Hollywood trade papers are reporting Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to reprise his role as Hannibal 'the Cannibal' Lecter in the SILENCE OF THE LAMBS/HANNIBAL prequel RED DRAGON. What's more, Brett Ratner (RUSH HOUR) is in serious talks about directing the movie.

The script, penned by Oscar winning SILENCE scribe Ted Tally from Thomas Harris' novel, has been bouncing around Hollywood for months, with everyone from Hopkins to Jude Law mentioned as the younger Hannibal. The trades also report the film is going before the cameras by the end of this year.

'The audience would like to know--once and forever--why, where and by whom Hannibal Lector was arrested,' HANNIBAL producer Dino De Laurentiis has told the Hollywood Reporter. 'This new version has parts of the book never seen before.'