Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins has cancelled a Red Dragon promotional tour after a note from the Washington serial sniper was linked to his film, Hannibal.

Hopkins, 64, pulled out of two radio interviews and cancelled other publicity on his tour of Australia, where Red Dragon - the third film in the Hannibal Lecter series - is about to be released.

The host of a Melbourne radio talk show said Hopkins cancelled an interview with him on the orders of his US management company.

Neil Mitchell told listeners to radio station 3AW the cancellation was due to a note believed to have been left by the sniper.

Distraught

The note, which warned: "Your children are not safe anywhere, any time", bears similarities to a letter written by Hopkins' on-screen character, Hannibal Lecter.

The actor was said to be "distraught" about the link.

But the film's distributor United International Pictures was remaining tight-lipped on the US sniper link, saying it was not aware there was one.

UIP marketing manager John Anderson said Hopkins was due to take part in two interviews in Melbourne before travelling to Sydney.

Sir Anthony said to be "distraught"

Mr Anderson said he had no knowledge of any connection between Hopkins' decision and the US sniper case.

He said he believed the actor may have cancelled because of ill health.

American "Son of Sam" serial killer David Berkowitz - currently serving a 365-year prison sentence for murdering six people and wounding several others - has suggested that the police should watch Red Dragon for clues about the sniper.

He sent a three-page letter to Fox News saying: "The Hannibal series is about a killer who is always trying to outsmart the FBI."

Red Dragon - a remake of Michael Mann's thriller Manhunter - took more than �3m at the UK box office on its opening weekend.