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Blanchett Up For 'Hannibal' Role?

They say you can never be too pretty or too popular, but comely Cate Blanchett may beg to differ on the latter point.
 
The actress, currently on screen in "The Talented Mr. Ripley," is the likely replacement for Jodie Foster after Foster passed on a chance to reprise her Oscar-winning character Clarice Starling in "Hannibal," the sequel to "Silence Of The Lambs."
 
Variety says that Universal had considered waiting for Foster to complete another project before pushing ahead with "Hannibal," but now Foster has been ruled out altogether.
 
Producer Dino De Laurentiis had offered to repay the $10 million Universal had spent on pre-production, but it now appears the studio will look for another actress to play Starling. Blanchett is one of two actresses in the running for the part, says Variety, adding that no one is saying who the other actress is.
 
So what's the problem? Blanchett is due to start shooting "The Gift" for Sam Raimi, who now is being sought by Sony to direct their high-profile "Spiderman" project. If Spidy is to make Sony's summer 2001 release date, the post-production schedule for "The Gift" would have to be altered.
 
And if Blanchett is to take on "Hannibal," that would foul up "The Gift's" shooting schedule.
 
Blanchett's scheduling problems may not end there. She's also supposed to be participating in the "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy, which is now shooting concurrent episodes in New Zealand.

Keep Up-to-Date on Cate Blanchett at Jam! Showbiz