NBC Pulls a Gender Switch With New 'Hannibal' Series TVLine

NBC is gender-switching a key role in its new "Hannibal" series, casting a woman in a role that was previously portrayed by men, reports TVLine.com.

Lara Jean Chorostecki of "Camelot" has been cast as Freddie Lounds, who in previous Hannibal Lecter-related projects was portrayed by male actors, including Philip Seymour Hoffman in 2002's "Red Dragon."

Lounds, a tabloid reporter, will be more sophisticated in the new TV series than was previously portrayed, and will serve as a foil for Lecter and other characters, the story notes.

Stephen Lang played the character in 1996's "Manhunter."