Red Dragon, Anthony Hopkins
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Despite conflicts and compromise, Ratner believes he stayed true to the novel -- down to its twist ending. ''How the hell Michael Mann didn't even use that, it's ridiculous,'' Ratner says. While comparisons between the two movies seem unavoidable, Ratner's unruffled. ''Nobody knows that film,'' he says. ''[And] the Michael Mann film had nothing to do with the book. My movie is a true interpretation of Thomas Harris' novel.'' (Mann replies: ''He said that? He's just talking.'')

Ratner has already scored his next project: Warner Bros.' massive new Superman movie (Hopkins has plans to costar as superdad Jor-El). Ah, and the reclusive Harris -- rumored to have been disappointed with ''Manhunter'' -- has seen ''Red Dragon'' and approved. ''He [said]: Here's all the Rs for reassurance, and he put, like, 100 Rs on the letter,'' Ratner says. (Harris declined to be interviewed.)

Now all that remains is the audience, and critical, response. Should the film reach ''Hannibal''-size box office, the question of still another Lecter flick arises. De Laurentiis and his producing-partner wife say they'd be up for it -- and since they own the rights to the Lecter character, they can commission a script, even if Harris never picks up a pen again.

But as of ''Red Dragon,'' they're out one very unique cannibal. ''Nobody will entice me to do it again,'' Hopkins says. ''Three times is enough. Three times is more than enough.'' (Additional reporting by Ken Tucker)

To read more about the making of ''Red Dragon,'' check out the Oct. 11, 2002, issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine.

Originally posted Oct 04, 2002 Published in issue #677 Oct 11, 2002 Order article reprints
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