NBC Orders 13 Episode ‘Hannibal’ Series From Writer Bryan Fuller (UPDATE)
[UPDATE #1] April 20, 2012 – Series creator Bryan Fuller speaks on the TV series of Hannibal and how he’ll reinvent Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Fuller also discusses how the series pulls away from its film counterparts and in using the Thomas Harris novel Red Dragon as the basis of the series which has already cast Hugh Dancy as “FBI Agent Will Graham”. [EW]
[Original] There’s so much to love/hate about this idea. On the one hand nobody (in my mind) can top off Anthony Hopkins as warped cannibal serial killer “Hannibal Lecter”, but its from Bryan Fuller the creator behind Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls. He’s also majorly responsible for Heroes good first season (he left afterwards to run Pushing Daisies and Heroes suffered for it).
NBC has now ordered a 13-episode series Hannibal without shooting a pilot and based off the first script only. This is usually done for projects with really strong material and having Bryan Fuller write seems to have been a great choice.
The series is being touted as a “contemporary thriller series featuring the classic characters from Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon – FBI agent Will Graham and his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter – who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship.”
The question now remains: Who will play Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham? Certainly Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton will NOT be on television on a weekly basis (although that would make for an awesome dream movie cast reunion). This is a project DMC will be following throughout, so check back for updates.
I commend NBC for taking this risk since they need to climb out of the ratings-gutter they find themselves in, but also for challenging the remake/reboot norms that people have become accustomed to. I loved Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon because the characters and subjects made for a fascinating watch and I’m eager to see where this goes.
Source: Joblo
About Mario Melidona
Mario has produced and written several screenplays and recently directed and edited a Black & White Short filmed on 16mm. His newfound love for postmodernism and the rise of existential cinema has been a great influence on his writings.
