Oldman joins Hannibal

Making his point: Hannibal actor Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman is to star alongside Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore in the sequel to The Silence of the Lambs.

The British actor has landed the role of hog farm magnate Mason Verger in Ridley Scott's Hannibal.

Director Scott also confirmed that the ending of the £50m movie was different to the gruesome conclusion of the book.

Anthony Hopkins prepares to resume his role as Hannibal Lecter

Hannibal sees Hopkins resume the role of Dr Lecter which won him a Best Actor Oscar in 1991.

Filming gets under way in Florence next week but at a press conference in the Italian city, the actor was keen to point out the new film was not a complete replica of the original.

"This is a different film, a different interpretation," he stressed.

Welsh-born Hopkins, who recently adopted US citizenship, will also have a different leading lady.

Julianne Moore replaces Jodie Foster, who refused to resume her role as FBI agent Clarice Starling.

Moore, twice nominated for an Oscar, admitted comparisons would be inevitable, but explained that the long passage of time between the two stories would give her a fresh starting point.

Tough

"She (Starling) is quite a different person at this point in her life," she explained.

Silence of the Lambs picked up five Academy Awards, including best picture and best director and Scott realises it will be a tough act to step into the shoes of predecessor Jonathan Demme.

"If this film comes up to the level of Silence of the Lambs, I'll be very happy," said Scott, whose credits include Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise, Alien and Gladiator.

Tough act to follow for director Ridley Scott

"But I'm very competitive, so it may even be more interesting that the first film."

As well as Oldman (True Romance, Leon, Sid and Nancy), Ridley will also be working with Goodfellas star Ray Liotta, who plays a senior FBI agent.

Oldman's revenge-seeking character is almost as vile as Lecter himself and the movie promises to produce a few fireworks, with Scott describing it as a "dark opera".

When shooting has finished in Florence, the cast and crew will move on to Washington DC, Richmond, Virginia and North Carolina. The movie is due for release next year.