Whoa: Mads Mikkelsen To Play Hannibal Lecter On NBC's 'Hannibal'

Television

by Kevin Jagernauth
June 4, 2012 4:20 PM
5 Comments

We've sort of been on the fence about the idea of bringing Thomas Harris' "Hannibal" to the small screen (particularly on network TV), but so far the production has been making all the right moves. Intriguingly, instead of jumping to right to the cannibal we know from "Silence Of The Lambs," the show will follow Hannibal Lecter – prior to his incarceration and working as a practicing psychiatrist – solving crimes alongside Will Graham (played by Hugh Dancy), Lecter’s FBI partner. And now they've landed one helluva actor for the title role.

Recent Cannes best actor winner for "The Hunt" and newly cast "Thor 2" villain Mads Mikkelsen will play Hannibal Lecter. Fucking awesome. American audiences still probably know him best as the baddie in "Casino Royale," but more savvy cinephiles are already aware of his talent from his collaborations with Nicolas Winding Refn, and films like "Open Hearts," "After The Wedding," and "Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky." This is a great bit of casting that adds more tremendous promise to the upcoming season.

David Slade is directing the pilot episode for the show, which has already been booked for a 13 episode first season run. No word yet on when it will air, but this is one we're definitely going to be tuning in for. [Deadline]

Television

More: Hannibal, TV News, Television, Mads Mikkelsen

5 Comments

| Reply
mad4mads | June 4, 2012 11:15 PMReply

He's the best actor today!
jingmei | June 4, 2012 9:51 PMReply

Why America psycho characters would like find European dudes to do.
Mr Anonymous | June 4, 2012 9:40 PMReply

NBC have no idea just how lucky they are! Wow, that is one fucking fantastic actor to bag! Especially for a role like Lector, let's just hope they don't fuck up the show. Like Ray H i am disheartened he's going down the route of network TV in the States but it's only 13 episodes and he's also got Thor 2 so hopefully we'll also see him in the land of cinema.
Ray H | June 4, 2012 5:07 PMReply

Well, they couldn't have gotten a better actor for the part. It's a bit of a disappointment that Mikkelsen is doing a US network TV gig, but hopefully it's a stepping stone for a bigger movie career here in the States.
liz | June 4, 2012 5:00 PMReply

Oh look, Mads playing a psycho, how interesting.