New Hannibal Lecter Book In Works

Readers hungry for a thriller can prepare to welcome back an old friend: Hannibal Lecter.

Bantam Dell Publishing Group president and publisher Irwyn Applebaum announced Thursday that author Thomas Harris is working on a fourth novel featuring the notorious cannibal, called "Behind the Mask."

Harris previously wrote "Red Dragon," "Hannibal" and "The Silence of the Lambs."

"Behind the Mask" is due next fall.

The publisher wouldn't reveal further details about the book, except to say the novel will "satisfy" readers' curiosity about how Lecter developed what the publisher calls his "appetite for evil."

Film rights for the book have already been bought by the Dino DeLaurentiis Co., which previously produced two Lecter films.

The character of Lecter has appeared in four feature films. "Red Dragon" was made into a movie first by director Michael Mann as "Manhunter" in 1986, starring Brian Cox in the role of Lecter.

"The Silence of the Lambs" was next in 1991, starring Anthony Hopkins as Lecter. Both Hopkins and Jodie Foster won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, and the film also won statuettes for Best Picture, Best Director for Jonathan Demme and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ted Tally.

Hopkins reprised the role of Lecter a second time for director Ridley Scott's "Hannibal" in 2001, and Julianne Moore took over the role of Clarice Starling for Foster.

"Red Dragon" was remade as a "Lambs" prequel under its original book title in 2002 by director Brett Ratner, starring Hopkins as a younger Lecter.