Behind the Mask (Hannibal Lecter prequel)

[Brian in Mesa]

DeLaurentiis Acquires New Hannibal Novel
Source: Associated Press
October 28, 2004

Film rights for a new Hannibal Lecter novel, "Behind the Mask," have been acquired by the Dino DeLaurentiis Company, which produced the Hannibal movies, Red Dragon and Hannibal. The book is scheduled for release next Fall.

"Thomas Harris is the premier novelist of psychological suspense of our time," said Irwyn Applebaum, president and publisher of the Bantam Dell Publishing Group.

"Millions of readers in 25 languages have wondered how Dr. Lecter developed his particular appetite for evil. This novel will satisfy their curiosity."

Harris has written three previous Lecter books: "Red Dragon,""Hannibal" and "The Silence of the Lambs," which was adapted into an Academy Award winning movie starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Webber Helming Next Hannibal Film
Source: Variety
November 3, 2004

Producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis have set Peter Webber (Girl With a Pearl Earring) to direct Behind the Mask, the Hannibal Lecter prequel being scripted by author Thomas Harris.

The novel will hit stores next Fall. The film will begin production in May for release in Summer 2006, reports Variety. Universal and MGM, partners on Hannibal and Red Dragon, will get first crack at domestic rights.

The producers are preparing to sell overseas rights this week at the American Film Market. They will sell that title along with the David Leland-directed The Decameron and The Last Legion. "Legion" will star Anthony Hopkins, who set the standard for Hannibal Lecter.

"It is a revenge story that shows why he became a cannibal," said Dino De Laurentiis. "But he kills people that audiences want to see killed. So while there is a natural revulsion, the sympathy toward Hannibal remains."

The producers and director will soon begin scouting locations in Lithuania, the Czech Republic and France. They will simultaneously search for young actors to play Lecter at three pivotal moments in his life.

 

[Cheesebeef]

this movie will bomb. No Anthony Hopkins ina prequel is almost as bad an idea as a prequel to Dumb and Dumber without Jim Carrey.

I guarantee this movie will be a flop.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Gaspart Ulliel to Play Young Hannibal?
Source: locus
September 3, 2005

AlloCiné reports that French actor Gaspard Ulliel (A Very Long Engagement, pictures) is a candidate to play the title role in director Peter Webber's Young Hannibal, a prequel to the Hannibal Lecter series which tells the story of the formative years of Lecter, revealing the origins of the now legendary character.

Young Hannibal is based on the upcoming book "Behind the Mask" by Thomas Harris, to be released on November 29. Filming is scheduled to begin on September 15th in Lithuania, Czech Republic and France.

"Mask" is the fourth book dealing with the Doctor, who first appeared in "Red Dragon," and subsequently in "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal". All were best sellers. "Hannibal" was a number one New York Times hardcover and paperback bestseller, with sales of nearly 1.5 million hardcovers for Delacorte in 1999 and more than 3 million Dell paperbacks.

All of Harris' books have been made into major motion pictures.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

...

 

[devilalum]

this movie will bomb. No Anthony Hopkins ina prequel is almost as bad an idea as a prequel to Dumb and Dumber without Jim Carrey.

I guarantee this movie will be a flop.

How could a Hopkins who is now 20 years older than when he did Silence of the Lambs play himself years before?

 

[SactownSunsFan]

How could a Hopkins who is now 20 years older than when he did Silence of the Lambs play himself years before?

BOTOX!!!

 

[Cheesebeef]

How could a Hopkins who is now 20 years older than when he did Silence of the Lambs play himself years before?

he can't and that's why the movie shouldn't be made. Not only is it a poor choice from a creative POV, considering that Hopkins MADE that character who he was, but from a financial standpoint it's stupid as well as this movie will be DOA, just like every other movie that's a prequel/sequel without it's biggest draw - the STAR.

 

[D-Dogg]

De Niro was pretty good as a young Vito Corleone. Marlon Brando WAS the Godfather, but De Niro was perfect playing young Vito.

It's not that you can't do it....or that you shouldn't. It's only that you have to do it really, really well.

 

[Chaplin]

he can't and that's why the movie shouldn't be made. Not only is it a poor choice from a creative POV, considering that Hopkins MADE that character who he was, but from a financial standpoint it's stupid as well as this movie will be DOA, just like every other movie that's a prequel/sequel without it's biggest draw - the STAR.

I'm guessing Thomas Harris would probably disagree with you.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Hannibal Rising

Hannibal Rising

Release Date: February 9, 2007
Studio: MGM, The Weinstein Company
Director: Peter Webber
Screenwriter: Thomas Harris
Genre: Thriller
MPAA Rating: R (for strong grisly violent content and some language/sexual references)
Website: Hannibal Rising

Starring: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans, Richard Brake, Kevin McKidd

Plot Summary: In "Red Dragon" we learned who he was. In "Silence of the Lambs" we learned how he did it. Now comes the most chilling chapter in the life of Hannibal Lecter – the one that answers the most elusive question of all - why?

"Hannibal Rising" marks the first time in the award-winning series, best selling author Thomas Harris ("Red Dragon," "Silence of the Lambs") writes the screenplay – reaching back to explore the origins of Lecter's rage, terror and savagery.

The story begins in Eastern Europe at the desperate end of World War II. For many it was no longer a conflict of nations but one of individual survival – at any cost. A young Hannibal watches from only steps away as his parents' violently die, leaving his cherished young sister in his care. This horrific moment will soon pale in comparison to the atrocities he is forced to witness and perhaps survive as a result of.

Alone and without any means of support, he is forced to live in a Soviet Orphanage that once served as his family's beloved home. He flees to Paris to find his uncle has died but his beautiful and mysterious Japanese widow, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li) welcomes him. Even her kindness and love cannot soothe the nightmares and sorrows that plague him. Showing a cunning aptitude for science he is accepted into medical school, which serves to hone his skills and provide the tools to exact justice on the war criminals that haunt him day and night. This quest will ignite an insatiable lust within a serial killer who was not born, but made.

Gaspard Ulliel plays the fearsome Lecter, alongside Gong Li, Rhys Ifans and Dominic West. Peter Webber ("Girl with a Pearl Earring") directs.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Could the title of this thread please be changed to Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter prequel) ..

Thanks.

 

[jenna2891]

"Hannibal Rising" marks the first time in the award-winning series, best selling author Thomas Harris ("Red Dragon," "Silence of the Lambs") writes the screenplay

that's good enough for me. i'll go see it.

 

[schwalbhimself]

gooood movie i liked it.

 

[Heucrazy]

I made the mistake of reading the book first and then watching this movie.

Great book, crap movie.

 

[Bada0Bing]

he can't and that's why the movie shouldn't be made. Not only is it a poor choice from a creative POV, considering that Hopkins MADE that character who he was, but from a financial standpoint it's stupid as well as this movie will be DOA, just like every other movie that's a prequel/sequel without it's biggest draw - the STAR.

Exactly! This film was below average. They should have just made it a stand-alone film and not used the Hannibal name. Then it would have had no expectations.

 

[NJCardFan]

If they made it today they could have used the same technology that they used for Jeff Bridges for Tron Legacy.