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Axed: Hannibal

NBC orders the cheque after three courses of US drama -but producers are exploring new dinner guests.

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NBC has axed US drama Hannibal after 3 seasons.

Currently airing its third season in the US, the show starring Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas, Gillian Anderson and Mads Mikkelsen will wrap there in September.

Last year it was announed that S3 and S4 would be merged into a single season.

While ratings have been modest, The Hollywood Reporter speculates there may have been a rights issue with producer Bryan Fuller wanting to introduce Clarice Starling in season four, with the rights to the character said to be unavailable.

“We have been tremendously proud of Hannibal over its three seasons,” the network announced in a statement. “Bryan and his team of writers and producers, as well as our incredible actors, have brought a visual palette of storytelling that has been second to none in all of television — broadcast or cable. We thank Gaumont and everyone involved in the show for their tireless efforts that have made ‘Hannibal’ an incredible experience for audiences around the world.”

Bryan Fuller said, “NBC has allowed us to craft a television series that no other broadcast network would have dared, and kept us on the air for three seasons despite Cancellation Bear Chow ratings and images that would have shredded the eyeballs of lesser Standards & Practices enforcers. (NBC entertainment president) Jen Salke and her team have been fantastic partners and creatively supportive beyond measure. Hannibal is finishing his last course at NBC’s table this summer, but a hungry cannibal can always dine again. And personally, I look forward to my next meal with NBC.”

However with the show having a fervent fan base, Variety reports producers De Laurentiis Company tweeted that they are “exploring other options for future seasons,” adding “others have expressed interest in partnering with us.”

Season Three begins in Australia at 8:30pm Thursday July 2nd on Showcase.

4 Responses

  1. Doesn’t surprise me to be honest, with last year Fuller deciding to combine the Hannibal Rising and Hannibal stories into season 3, when originally they were going to season 3 and 4 (like mentioned). Then 8 days ago signing on to do the Starz Networks American Gods (with Neil Gaiman on board), it seemed the writing was on the wall a bit ago. Of course Fuller is now free from NBC, so Hannibal could pop-up somewhere else and who knows it might end up being on Starz seeing he’s doing a show there.

  3. Despite the fact that I am notoriously squeamish, I do enjoy Hannibal’s unapologetically noir chills, often from between my fingers. It’s beautifully written and shot (or should that be sliced), and whilst I was reticent about Mads Mikkelson’s casting initially, he has inhabited the title role with aplomb.

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