Summary
Mads Mikkelsen has expressed his interest in aHannibalrevival, which would be just what fans have been clamoring for ever since the show’s cancelation. As an adaptation of Thomas Harris' indelible horror characters fromRed Dragon,Hannibal, andHannibal Rising, the NBC psychological horror seriesHannibalhad a lot of high expectations placed on it. Thankfully,Hannibalturned out to be justas good as the movies it’s based on, saveTheSilence of the Lambs, which is in a league of its own. The show only lasted three seasons, however.
In June 2015, NBC announced it would becancelingHannibaldespite the show’s critical acclaim.The network pointed to low viewership as the reason behind their decision, but the loyal fanbase was outraged. They even booed NBC at Comin-Con in 2015 when the network was brought up during aHannibalpanel (viaDeadline). Mads Mikkelsen, the Danish actor known for his performances inCasino RoyaleandDoctor Strangehas been steadily beating the drum for the return of the show and still thinks a revival is possible.
Hannibal’s Weird Rights Problem Hurt BOTH TV Shows
The legal rights issues surrounding the characters in Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter novel series hurt both CBS’s Clarice and NBC’s Hannibal.
Mads Mikkelsen Says The Opportunity For A Hannibal Revival Is “Not Over Yet”
Mikkelsen Thinks The Show Just Needs To Find A Home To Premiere On
Mads Mikkelsen was immediately on board to reviveHannibal, saying as much only a few months later, in December 2015 (viaIGN). Later, in February 2016, Mikkelsen again referred tothe possibility ofHannibal’s return. In June 2016, Bryan Fuller, the series' showrunner, said that they were just waiting for everyone’s schedules to sink up, and then they would really start exploring a revival (viaCollider). Serioustalks about aHannibalrevival began in earnestin 2017. Those talks apparently stalled because it wasn’t until 2019 that Mikkelsen gaveBloody Disgustingan update,
“Yeah, I think there’s always new hope. I haven’t heard anything specific [about the show]. I know Bryan is still working on some ideas where we can find a new home for this. I also have a strong feeling that everybody who was involved in it would gladly pick up the glove again if that happens.”
There hasn’t been much news since then, but in an interview withBusiness Insiderin February 2024, the Danish actor gave fans renewed hope forthe possibility ofHannibalseason 4. In the interview, a profile about Mikkelsen’s 2023 filmThe Promised Landand his reunion with Fuller for the upcoming movie,Dust Bunny, Mikkelsen spoke a bit about what’s next forHannibal,
“It’s [Hannibal] got to happen eventually sooner than later because we’re not getting any younger, right? But the story itself can jump, it can have that gap, which is fine. So it’s all about finding a home for it, but that’s nothing concrete out there now.”
It sounds like just about everyone is ready forHannibalexcept a willing network. It’s never easy to get a show off the ground, even a legacy series with a cult following, so that piece of the puzzle is no small task. Perhaps with the minutes counting down, however, there will be a renewed sense of urgency to get the series made.
What Other Hannibal Actors Have Said About Coming Back
Hugh Dancy Has Expressed Interest In Returning To The Series
Mikkelsen isn’t the onlyHannibalalum interested in returning to the series. Hugh Dancy, who plays Will Graham, the co-lead ofHannibal, would also be game to return (viaCollider),
“We keep saying, when we get asked, ‘Oh, we’d love to do it,’ which is true. Maybe it’ll take one of us to say, ‘I will absolutely never do a fourth season of Hannibal,’ but that would be a lie.”
Caroline Dhavernas, who plays Dr. Alana Bloom has also mentionedher interest in returning toHannibal,
“For sure, there is still so much to tell. I know every time we are asked about it, everyone says they would be on board.”
Of course, Bryan Fuller wants to seeHannibalseason 4 happen, with Mikkelsen explicitly referring to Fuller having some ideas for the series (viaBusiness Insider),
“He’s got a few ideas, Bryan. So I can’t really reveal any, in case we do start, but I’m sure they made it somehow.”
The original actors, especially Mads Mikkelsen, and showrunner all seem up for a new season ofHannibal, which means that the only thing standing in the way is schedule alignments and network interest. Those aren’t simple obstacles to overcome, but season 4 is definitely an achievable goal.
Hannibal
Cast
Created for TV by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a TV adaptation/reimagining of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel. The show follows the exploits of FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and their perpetual game of cat and mouse that unfolds over the series. When a string of murders in Minnesota requires a brilliant mind to crack the case, Will Graham is called in to investigate - but due to the intimate and terrifying nature of the crimes, he is appointed Dr. Lecter to act as his psychiatrist. The truth of Dr. Lecter is that he is Will’s target - but to complicate matters, he’s the only person that can truly understand him.
