NBC cancelled the TV series "Hannibal" two weeks ago, but Gaumont International, the production company, is continuing its efforts to find another network to pick up the TV show's fourth season. The search, however, may have gotten trickier.
"Hannibal" is based on a Thomas Harris novel, "Red Dragon." The TV series centers on Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a cannibalistic serial killer and forensic psychiatrist who serves as a consultant and confidant for FBI agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). Laurence Fishburne III, Caroline Dhavernas, Tao Okamoto, Scott Thompson and Gillian Anderson are all part of the cast that make up show.
Neellie Andreeva's article on Deadline revealed that the contracts of Mikkelsen and Dancy have already expired, thereby freeing both lead actors to take on other projects. Even if Gaumont International finds a new network to pick up the TV series, it will still need to renew both actors' contracts, granted that they are still available by then.
According to the same article, the good news is that both still love the show and are willing to return when given the offer. However, the same cannot be said of the rest of the cast, who have found new projects to work on. Laurence Fishburne, for instance, has already signed up to play as Alex Haley in A&E's remake of "Roots." Even the show's executive producer, Bryan Fuller, has found a new series to work on - "American Gods" for Starz. If a new network picks up the show, Fuller's availability is a big question.
In an interview with Deadline last week, Fuller was asked about the feasibility of resurrecting "Hannibal." The producer remarked: "Honestly, I'm not sure. I would say 50/50 because I've been down this road before, and there's that brief wave of 'oh it could be possible' and then it just doesn't happen."
Fuller added: " I know conversations are being had. It's just a matter of [whether] they can come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial to the studio and the distributor."
