DOMINIC WEST TRAILS HANNIBAL LECTER

Dominic West plays the detective hot on Hannibal Lecter’s trail in Hannibal Rising.

The Wire star Dominic West stars as Inspector Popil in Hannibal Rising, the senior detective in the French police investigating Hannibal Lecter’s very first murder and hot on his trail.

Dominic says he was impressed with Gaspard Ulliel’s portrayal of the fictional serial killer made famous by Sir Anthony Hopkins.

“I didn’t know Gaspard before this and he’s got his work cut out. He’s got to be young Anthony Hopkins who was so amazing in the part. And he’s totally convincing. He’s a very good looking very nice guy and then when you act opposite him you think, ‘Jesus this guy could really kill you.’ He really could eat people so he’s doing a great job.”

Gong Li plays Lady Murasaki, a relative by marriage to Hannibal who takes him in when his killing spree begins, seducing Dominic’s detective to keep him safe, a quality he liked very much playing out on screen.

“And so every scene I get with her we’re flirting outrageously with each other and she’s really turning on the seduction. And it really works. She has more erotic charge than I think any actress I’ve ever met.”

Hannibal Rising came in second at the box office to Norbit it’s opening weekend earning 13.3 million dollars.