Young Hannibal

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A film will almost certainly be made out of "Hannibal Rising" (Delacourte Press), Thomas Harris's new Hannibal Lecter book that's due on 12.5, but Anthony Hopkins can forget it. It's strictly a young Hannibal thing that covers ages 6 through 20. Meaning two or three actors, right?

"Close readers of Mr. HarrisÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s previous novels, which also include 'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'Red Dragon,' may recall that Dr. Lecter saw his entire family killed during World War II in Eastern Europe," Motoko Rich recalls in this New York Times story. "The new novel will shed more light on the circumstances of those deaths, with a focus on Dr. Lecter's memories of his younger sister, Mischa."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 19, 2006 at 5:40 PM

comment #1

ednla says ...

The movie is already done and will be coming out on February 7 in the US. Directed by Peter Webber (Girl With A Pearl Earring) and starring Gaspard Ulliel (A Very Long Engagement) as Hannibal Lecter. Thomas Harris adapted the screenplay himself.

Posted by ednla at September 19, 2006 5:56 PM

comment #2

The Winchester says ...

ednla beat me to the punch. I read a test review of it at AICN. They seemed to like it, if I recall.

Posted by The Winchester at September 19, 2006 6:17 PM

comment #3

frankbooth says ...

Oh, no.

I was one of the suckers who waited years for Hannibal, bought it in hardcover and was seriously dissapointed. Since my expectations were virtually nil, I was able to enjoy Gary Oldman and bits of the movie as isolated set-pieces, but it's way past time to retire this character.

Also, that kid looks nothing like a young Anthony Hopkins. (Don't worry--I won't start another Cox vs Hopkins debate...though I can't be blamed if someone else does. Can I?)

Posted by frankbooth at September 19, 2006 7:24 PM

comment #4

Burbanked says ...

In this day and age when the movie and book sequels seem to be created at the same time, does anyone know which title of this piece came first? Because the movie is called something silly like Hannibal: Behind the Mask which sounds a lot like some kind of VH1 cannibal documentary.

Shouldn't it really be Before the Mask or maybe This Is How He Became the Guy Who Had To Wear That Mask With Which You Are Already Familiar? Why not just use Hannibal Rising? It's at least as silly and pointless.

Posted by Burbanked at September 19, 2006 8:05 PM

comment #5

p.Vice says ...

When I read about the movie I was shocked that a hack like Hopkins didn't insist on aging himself younger with computer effects or something to cash yet another paycheck. Isn't that what this kind of crap is all about?

Posted by p.Vice at September 19, 2006 8:30 PM

comment #6

Undercover Brother says ...

The Lecter character is about one step away from becoming just another Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger. Just another boogeyman who pops up to make some callous producer more money.

Posted by Undercover Brother at September 19, 2006 9:35 PM

comment #7

fnt says ...

Even Thomas Harris' worst novels (Black Sunday and Hannibal) are better than most potboilers. I guess I'll try to suffice on what nourishment there is in them...

But how could Jeff read the NY Times story (which he quotes) and not notice how prominently they mention (several times) that they're very excited to release it close to the forthcoming movie?

Posted by fnt at September 20, 2006 2:45 AM

comment #8

Rich S. says ...

I guess neither Harris nor anyone else involved with these projects realizes that the lure of Hannibal Lecter was his mystery. The less mysterious he's become, the less interesting. Jack the Ripper is still the most fascinating serial killer of all time because, despite various theories, we will never know exactly who he was. Dracula was barely in Bram Stoker's novel and the best Dracula films (such as Hammer's first in 1957) are the ones that have used him the least.

As each novel/film in the series has peeled away a layer of mystery, the character has become more and more routine. He was great as a "force of nature" in Red Dragon and Lambs. But when they captured him so easily in Hannibal, the character lost all his magic. As someone above observed, he's followed the same arc as Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. BOO!

Posted by Rich S. at September 20, 2006 5:15 AM

comment #9

christian says ...

These books and movies are a perfect example of what Harlan Ellison called "Enormous Dumb"...

Posted by christian at September 20, 2006 8:16 AM

comment #10

Joel says ...

This movie has awful written all over it.

Posted by Joel at September 20, 2006 10:01 AM

comment #11

storymark says ...

For a guy who disses other Journalists for printing a story a day later than others, Jeff not knowing the film version is already done is pretty damned funny. I'm not a big fan of any of the Lecter books or movies, or connected to the industry in any real way, and I knew about it months ago.

Posted by storymark at September 20, 2006 10:13 AM

comment #12

Josh Massey says ...

Exactly. I still like the original title the best: "The Lecter Variations." At least "Hannibal Rising" (which I'm sure is what the film will be called) is better than "Behind the Mask."

Posted by Josh Massey at September 20, 2006 12:09 PM

comment #13