NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Producer Dino DeLaurentiis says he thinks of his Hannibal Lecter films as a franchise akin to the beloved, actor-changing, secret agent 007 series.
While Anthony Hopkins has portrayed Lecter in "Red Dragon," "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal," French actor Gaspard Ulliel will soon be seen playing a younger version of the iconic serial killer in the film "Hannibal Rising."
"When Sean Connery was out of James Bond, they said, 'James Bond is over.' Look how many times they changed James Bonds. The audience loves the character, they don't care who plays him, as long as he's good," the 87-year-old Italian film producer said in New York Tuesday.
"They like to see Hannibal Lecter -- in the past and in the future -- because Hannibal Lecter is a fantastic character," he added. "This is a picture about the creation of a monster, but he's a monster who becomes a hero; a monster who kills only the people the audience wants to kill, too. It's very charming."
DeLaurentiis said he hasn't ruled out making more Hannibal movies.
"Hannibal is my perfect baby," he said. "If I am right, if the picture is successful, Mr. Gaspard (will) come back to work."
