NBC’s Hannibal Lecter Series a “Love Story” Mapped Out Over Seven Seasons
Even though Jonathan Demme's infamous 'Silence of the Lambs' adaptation came out all the way back in 1991, most anyone today with the slightest pop culture recognition could pick out Anthony Hopkins' iconic interpretation of the dastardly Dr. Hannibal Lecter. So if NBC's upcoming 'Hannibal' reboot explores the character's earlier years opposite Will Graham, could Lecter's villainous ways really stay secret for long?
According to 'Pushing Daisies' and 'Heroes' writer Bryan Fuller, NBC's upcoming adaptation of 'Hannibal' has a very specific vision of how the legendary character might unfold over the course of a few seasons. Speaking in an interview with EW, Fuller say:
It’s before he was incarcerated, so he’s more of a peacock. There is a cheery disposition to our Hannibal. He’s not being telegraphed as a villain. If the audience didn’t know who he was, they wouldn’t see him coming. What we have is Alfred Hitchcock’s principle of suspense — show the audience the bomb under the table and let them sweat when it’s going to go boom. So the audience knows who Hannibal is so we don’t have to overplay his villainy. We get to subvert his legacy and give the audience twists and turns.
The casting of Lecter himself has yet to be announced opposite Hugh Dancy's Will Graham, but Fuller claims their interpretation to be something of a "love story," in which the narrative explores some of the similarities observed between Lecter and Graham over the course of a number of seasons, as outlined by certain exchanges within the films. Currently, NBC is planning 'Hannibal' under the cable model of 13-episode seasons, something unusual for a network series, but one that Fuller adds "gives us the opportunity not to dally in our storytelling because we have a lot of real estate to cover. I pitched a seven-season arc including stories from various [Thomas Harris] books.”
Elsewhere, Fuller confirms that 'Hannibal' will be something of a modern update for the characters, "Starbucking" by changing the genders of a few classic Thomas Harris characters, updating their professions for the time period as well. For instance, while FBI boss Jack Crawford will remain male, Dr. Alan Bloom will become Dr. Alana Bloom, and tabloid journalist Freddy Lounds (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the film) becomes tabloid blogger Fredricka Lounds.
In addition to 'Hannibal,' Fuller also maintains writing duties on NBC's upcoming reboot of 'The Munsters,' 'Mockingbird Lane.'
What say you does the idea of turning 'Hannibal' into a 'Dexter'-like secret serial killer capture your interest in the series, or is fava beans and a nice Chianti simply a recipe you don't mess with? How would you like the series to play out? Give us your take in the comments below!