Bryan Fuller’s success with television has been tinged with a bit of disappointment. His shows have mostly been cancelled at their early stages, like A Mockingbird Lane, which didn’t get picked up by NBC after its premiere last year or Pushing Daisies, which didn’t make it to its third season on ABC. But it seems that with his upcoming thriller Hannibal, all that may change, especially given its exciting trailer.
There have been a couple of adaptations featuring Thomas Harris’ iconic character, but none of them have been on television. Fuller’s rendition will be the first to present the serial killer on the small screen. Based on Harris’ novel, Red Dragon, the series stars Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy as Agent Will Graham.
Hannibal‘s storyline follows the professional relationship between the special agent and the brilliant psychiatrist. Their relationship begins when Graham seeks Hannibal’s help to catch serial killers, not knowing that the doctor is one himself.
The trailer gives us an interesting glance at the show’s protagonists, with Mikkelsen’s character at the center of it. The footage subtly hints at Hannibal’s cannibalistic nature and it’s followed by a poster, which shows him holding a napkin to the corner of his mouth. The image in the poster seems quite significant and it reveals a bit of info on the character. For example, his impeccable suit illustrates his taste for good things, as well as keeping things clean and neat. The napkin to his mouth may suggest his desire for good manners.
When most people think of Hannibal, they mostly remember Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal in The Silence of the Lambs, for which he won an Oscar. And those may be big shoes to fill, but I think Mikkelsen can deliver in the new series.
Already, Mikkelsen seems to translate Hannibal’s psychotic nature to the screen. Even though he says only two words in the preview, he’s able to give off that sophisticated and calm yet deadly vibe, qualities which aptly match his character’s twisted personality. So far I’m excited to see how he tackles the character.
However, Mikkelsen isn’t the only actor who shines in the footage, as Hugh Dancy and Laurence Fishburne’s presences are also very commanding. In addition, the series also features Catherine Dhavernas, Gina Torres, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Aaron Abrams and Ana Chlumsky.
Hannibal premieres at 10:00pm Eastern Time on April 4th, 2013. Until then check out the trailer and poster below and let us know your thoughts.
