‘Hannibal’ Casts Eddie Izzard After ‘Mockingbird Lane’ Failure

It really pays to know Bryan Fuller. Not only has the one-time 'Pushing Daisies' producer cast a number of his past stars in NBC's upcoming Hannibal Lecter adaptation 'Hannibal,' but he even provided a role for comedian Eddie Izzard! The UK star has previously been attached to Fuller's other NBC effort 'Mockingbird Lane' as Grampa Munster, though NBC passed on the series and burned off its pilot as a "Halloween Special." Find out Izzard's ripping new 'Hannibal' role inside!

The Munsters' reboot 'Mockingbird Lane' may have come and gone, but comedian Eddie Izzard is staying in business with series creator Bryan Fuller. According to Entertainment Weekly, Fuller's forthcoming series 'Hannibal' has tasked Eddie Izzard with a recurring role, likely to debut with the series sometime in mid-season 2013.

Izzard will play an inmate of the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, one who claims to be "the infamous Chesapeake Ripper.” Fans of writer Thomas Harris' work will remember that the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane would eventually come to house Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), following his capture at the hands of FBI agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy).

In addition to Laurence Fishburne’s Jack Crawford and wife Gina Torres playing Crawford’s wife, Bryan Fuller’s ‘Hannibal’ features ‘SNL‘ alum Molly Shannon, ‘Pushing Daisies’ vet Ellen Greene, ‘Wonderfalls’ stars Chelan Simmons and Lara Jean Chorostecki as a female interpretation of ‘Red Dragon’ character Freddy Lounds. Set in the early days of Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen)’s partnership, Fuller’s envisioned series is “a love story” told across at least seven seasons. He also specified the likelihood that the third or so season would cover the story of Thomas Harris’ novel ‘Red Dragon,’ by which time Lecter had been caught.

The pilot also boasts David Slade as a director, but what say you? Are you excited to see 'Hannibal,' especially now that Eddie Izzard has joined the cast?