Hannibal is an American psychological horror-thriller television series developed by Bryan Fuller for NBC. The series is based on characters and elements appearing in Thomas Harris' novels Red Dragon (1981), Hannibal (1999), and Hannibal Rising (2006) and focuses on the relationship between Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a forensic psychiatrist and serial killer destined to become Graham's most cunning enemy and, at the same time, the only person who can understand him. The series received a 13-episode order for its first season. David Slade executive produced and directed the first episode. The series premiered on NBC on April 4, 2013. In May 2014, NBC renewed Hannibal for a third season, which premiered on June 4, 2015. On June 22, 2015, NBC canceled Hannibal after three seasons because of low viewership. The series finale aired in Canada on City, on August 27, 2015, and aired two days later in the U.S. on NBC. The series received critical acclaim, with the performances of the lead actors and the visual style of the show being singled out for praise. The first two seasons each won the Saturn Awards for Best Network Television Series, while both Mikkelsen and Dancy won Best Actor, with Laurence Fishburne winning Best Supporting Actor for season two. The third and final season won the inaugural Best Action-Thriller Television Series award, while guest star Richard Armitage won Best Supporting Actor. The show has garnered a cult following and is considered by critics and audiences as one of the best series of the horror genre, and one of the greatest network TV series of all time.
Plot FBI profiler Will Graham is recruited by Jack Crawford, the head of Behavioral Sciences of the FBI, to help investigate a serial killer in Minnesota. With the investigation weighing heavily on Graham, Crawford decides to have him supervised by forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Initially, Lecter—who is secretly a serial killer and a cannibal—works to manipulate the FBI from within. The bond Lecter builds with Graham begins to threaten his longevity. Lecter is fascinated by Graham's ability to empathize with psychopathic murderers and tries to push the boundaries of Graham's fragile sanity to turn him into a killer.
Cast and characters
Main Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, a gifted criminal profiler and hunter of serial killers. He visualizes himself committing the murders he investigates to understand the killers' behaviors; throughout the series, Graham's involvement with the investigations takes a toll on his psyche. The emotional relationship between Graham and Lecter forms the foundation of the series. Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant forensic psychiatrist and gourmand, who is also secretly a serial killer and a cannibal, known as the Chesapeake Ripper. Caroline Dhavernas as Dr. Alana Bloom, a professor of psychology and consultant profiler for the FBI who has professional relationships with both Graham and Lecter. Hettienne Park as Beverly Katz, a crime scene investigator specializing in fiber analysis. (seasons 1–2) Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford, head of Behavioral Sciences at the FBI and Graham's boss. Scott Thompson as Jimmy Price, a crime scene investigator specializing in latent fingerprints. (recurring season 1; also starring seasons 2–3) Aaron Abrams as Brian Zeller, a crime scene investigator. (recurring season 1; also starring seasons 2–3) Gillian Anderson as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, Lecter's psychotherapist, who was once attacked by one of Lecter's former patients. (recurring seasons 1–2; regular season 3)
Recurring Raúl Esparza as Frederick Chilton, administrator of Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Kacey Rohl as Abigail Hobbs, daughter and accomplice of serial killer Garrett Jacob Hobbs, who develops a complicated father-daughter relationship with Lecter and Graham. Lara Jean Chorostecki as Fredricka "Freddie" Lounds, a tabloid blogger and journalist who runs the true crime website TattleCrime. Eddie Izzard as Abel Gideon, a transplant surgeon institutionalized for killing his family, who is led to believe that he is the Chesapeake Ripper by Dr. Chilton. Gina Torres as Phyllis "Bella" Crawford, Jack Crawford's wife, who is suffering from terminal lung cancer. Vladimir Jon Cubrt as Garrett Jacob Hobbs, a serial killer known as the Minnesota Shrike. Anna Chlumsky as Miriam Lass, an FBI trainee and Jack Crawford's protégée. She mysteriously disappears while investigating the Chesapeake Ripper. (seasons 1–2) Katharine Isabelle as Margot Verger, one of Lecter's patients; she has suffered years of abuse at the hands of her twin brother, Mason. (seasons 2–3) Michael Pitt (season 2) and Joe Anderson (season 3) as Mason Verger, Margot's sadistic twin brother, who develops several plots to impregnate his sister and bring down Lecter. Cynthia Nixon as Kade Prurnell, an investigator for the Office of the Inspector General. (season 2) Jonathan Tucker as Matthew Brown, a psychopathic hospital orderly intrigued by Will who attempts to kill Hannibal. (season 2) Richard Armitage as Francis Dolarhyde, a serial killer known as The Tooth Fairy due to his unsightly habit of biting the skin of his victims. (season 3) Fortunato Cerlino as Rinaldo Pazzi, an Italian inspector who teams up with Jack to search for Lecter. (season 3) Tao Okamoto as Chiyoh, handmaiden to Lecter's aunt, Lady Murasaki. (season 3) Glenn Fleshler as Cordell Doemling, the creepy yet gentle and intelligent nurse to Mason Verger. (season 3) Nina Arianda as Molly Graham, Will's wife, who helps him overcome his dark past. She continues to support Will when he is asked to return to the FBI. (season 3) Rutina Wesley as Reba McClane, a blind woman and love interest of Dolarhyde. (season 3)
Production
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