By Tracy Phillips
Comcast.net Entertainment Editor
The American Film Institute named him the Number One villain of all time, which could explain why producers are coaxing out another film about Hannibal Lecter. Opening Friday, Feb. 9th, ?Hannibal Rising? is the fifth film in the series (including Michael Mann?s ?Manhunter?) and the first to reveal the motivation behind the madman. French actor Gaspard Ulliel (?A Very Long Engagement?) stars in the chilling origin story of Hannibal Lecter, which covers the character?s early years to uncover just how he became unhinged, and he talked with Comcast.net in this exclusive interview.

Q: So, was the scariest thing about this movie stepping into Anthony Hopkins? iconic role?
A: It was very scary, I could feel a lot of pressure when I was proposed the project. I knew it would be a big experience, and I knew it was a bit risky for me to take this part, especially coming in after Anthony Hopkins, but you know, when I met Peter Webber (?Girl with a Pearl Earring?), the director, in Paris, and we worked for maybe two hours on the film, I became very confident with him---and this character became addictive.

Q: There are some people out there who don?t support the idea of deconstructing Hannibal, that not knowing the big ?Why? he?s a monster is actually what makes him such a fascinating character. What do you have to say to them?
A: I don?t think it?s a bad thing to tell the past of this character. Maybe for some people it is going to demystify the character, they just don?t have to go and see the film. But I think it?s kind of interesting to see how the creator is explaining how he became like this. As for me, it was just a great experience to be able to work in English, in a different country and on such a deep and complex character, and I don?t regret anything.

Q: You were seven years old when ?Silence of the Lambs? swept the Oscars. How are you handling the expectations that come with a film franchise with that kind of legacy?
A: I don?t like this word, but, yes, it is a big franchise and I know that many people are waiting for this film, and we might have some criticisms. Also, the idea of doing a prequel is something that people might not like because in a way it?s going to kill their imaginations, but you know it?s Tom Harris who wrote the script, it?s Tom Harris who decided to do a prequel and he is the creator of Hannibal Lecter--he is Hannibal Lecter?s father in a way--and he can do whatever he likes, that?s his choice.

Q: How did you find your dark side?
A: I don?t know if it was finding my own dark side, it?s more the character?s dark side, but I tried to prepare as much as I could and I had a lot of intense reading about real serial killers and this was very interesting and even moving sometimes. And then I worked a lot with Peter and he gave me some films to study, some very violent samurai films and some French film noir because he was strongly inspired by this type of cinema for the ambience of the film.

Q: The murder scenes are extremely gory; were they difficult to act out?
A: It?s more fun than anything else. On the set everything looks fake, and at the end of those murder scenes the dead man is waking up, and you have strawberry flavored blood, so I had a lot of fun doing those killing scenes.

Q: How did you prepare for them?
A: Peter sent me to medical school in Prague to assist in autopsies. I remember waking up in the morning and feeling a bit anxious and dizzy, and when you enter the room, it?s a bit odd to see all those dead bodies around you, and the smell is so strong, it?s a mixture of formaldehyde and rotten meat. But in a few minutes you forget it and you are able to touch organs and it?s just amazing; in a way it?s a bit like a piece of art, you have all those different colors, different textures, and, in fact, I even asked to go back.

Q: That mask freaks everybody out. What was it like wearing it?
A: Well, it?s a nice moment, it?s not such a big thing in the film, but it was nice to have such a symbolic prop in my hand. And actually we had only one mask and the director wanted it to sit right on my face as we see it in the film, without using the elastic to keep it on, so I tried to push both sides to make it smaller to fit my face and I broke the mask. The producers were not happy. [laughs]

Q: Are you worried that this could be a defining role for you and now people will always think you?re creepy?
A: [laughs] No, I don?t think so. Well, in real life I?m really different, and I?m still very young, and I have very different roles that I?ve done before. This is the first character that I?ve done that is so dark and bad, so I don?t think I?m going to get typecast just yet.

Q: Who?s your favorite villain?
A: Actually, Hannibal Lecter is one of my favorites. I think the fascinating aspect of this character is that people always like him; you know he?s a monster and he?s doing all those savage killings and you still like the character. I think it?s because he has this very charming way of expressing himself, he is always seducing and very intelligent. Usually when you have bad guys in film, they?re always a bit stupid.

Q: You?re only 22 and already have been in films with some amazing older actresses, like Monica Bellucci, Audrey Tautou, Charlotte Rampling, Isabella Rossellini and now Gong Li plays your sexy step-aunt. What?s your secret?
A: I don?t know and I?m not going to tell anyway. [laughs] Yeah, I?m very, very lucky, I know this.

Q: Have you ever tried fava beans and chianti?
A: Yes. Not at the same time though. It?s nice. Very nice.