This August, MGM Home Entertainment will release Special Edition DVDs of Ridley Scott’s thriller Hannibal as well as its Oscar winning 1991 predecessor Silence of the Lambs.

Based on the final two books in Thomas Harris’ book trilogy, “Silence of the Lambs” and “Hannibal” follows the relationship between FBI agent Clarice Starling and the cannibalistic genius Dr. Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter. Beginning in “Lambs”, the young Clarice meets the good Doctor for the first time while working on her first case. As she and her superior Jack Crawford try to rescue a senator’s daughter from the psychotic killer nicknamed Buffalo Bill, Starling tries to coerce information from the imprisoned Dr. Lecter. But the deeper she digs, the more she questions who is really in control of their conversations.

The story continues in “Hannibal”. The doctor is now at large in Europe, pursuing his own interests, savoring the scents, the essences of an unguarded world. But Starling has never forgotten her encounters with Dr. Lecter – his seldom-used voice still haunts her dreams. Mason Verger remembers Dr. Lecter, too, and is obsessed with revenge. Verger was Dr. Lecter’s sixth victim, and, though hideously disfigured, has survived. Verger soon realizes that in order to draw the doctor out into the open, he must use someone Lecter cannot resist as bait: Clarice.

Like other former Criterion titles from MGM, “Silence of the Lambs” comes with a wealth of extras, many of which not previously available. Two versions of the DVD will be released. The first contains the film with an anamorphic widescreen transfer. The second will contain a fullscreen transfer. Both versions will carry a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack and the same features including an original making of featurette, 20 minutes of deleted footage, trailers, production stills, a documentary featuring interviews with Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, and a never-before-seen outtake reel.

The new disc for “Hannibal” will also be quite packed. Boasting an anamorphic widescreen transfer, the audio will be available in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. The disc will feature an audio commentary by Director Ridley Scott, “Breaking the Silence” – 5 making-of featurettes, deleted footage, three interactive multi-angle featurettes and a gallery featuring never-before-seen materials.

All three DVDs will be available on August 21st for the suggested retail price of $29.98.