Anthony Hopkins in talks to join 'RED 2'

Published May 24 2012, 21:30 BST | By Tom Eames

Sir Anthony Hopkins is close to signing a deal to join the cast of RED 2.

The legendary British actor is currently in negotiations to appear in the sequel to the 2010 action movie.

Still from the movie 'Red', starring Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren

Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Dame Helen Mirren will return for the follow-up, which follows a group of former special agents forced to return to the field from retirement, and is based on the three-issue DC Comics miniseries by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner.

Hopkins will play a genius scientist who is locked inside a mental asylum.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byun-Hun Lee are also set to join the cast.

The project will reunite Mirren and Hopkins once again, having recently worked together in the upcoming biopic Hitchcock.

RED 2 will be released on August 2, 2013.