Hannibal Rising

Lithuania, 1944. Eight-year-old Hannibal and his sister Mischa survive the destruction of the family's country lodge, only to fall into the hands of starving deserters. Years later, Hannibal escapes a Soviet orphanage and goes to France to live with his aunt, Lady Murasaki. He beheads a butcher who insulted her, gets into medical school and uses a truth serum to recall the names of the men who killed Mischa. Then he hunts them down one by one. On the houseboat of their leader, Grutas, he's told he unknowingly ate his sister too. He kills Grutas, Murasaki leaves him, and he's presumed dead. One name is left, in Canada.

1. Behind the scenesHarris wrote it to keep Lecter

   Dino De Laurentiis, who held the character's rights, told Thomas Harris he'd make the prequel with someone else if Harris passed. Harris ended up writing both the novel and the screenplay.

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2. Behind the scenesUlliel said no more than once

   Gaspard Ulliel turned the part down several times before signing on. He saw it as too risky to take on a role audiences tied to Anthony Hopkins.

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3. SetupNext stop: Canada

   The last name on Hannibal's list is in Canada. The film ends with him crossing the Atlantic, to the continent where the rest of his story plays out.

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