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Lee Sinks Teeth Into 'Ring' Cycle
Vanessa Torres

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - British actor Christopher Lee is in final negotiations to co-star as Saruman in New Line's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, ``The Lord of the Rings.''

Lee will join Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood in director Peter Jackson's first installment. Shooting is scheduled to begin in October.

Lee has appeared in nearly 250 films and television productions, including ``A Tale of Two Cities,'' ``Dracula'' and ''The Mummy.'' He most recently appeared in Miramax's ``Russell Mulcahy's Tale of the Mummy.''

Lee's autobiography, ``Tall, Dark and Gruesome,'' was released in the U.S. last week by Midnight Marquee Press.