NBC’s "Hannibal" will feature the serial killer Hannibal Lecter with at least one big difference from the version of Lecter played by Anthony Hopkins in “Silence of the Lambs.” The new Hannibal will have a "cheery disposition," according to creator Bryan Fuller, reports EW.com’s Inside TV.
Many viewers know Lecter from the 1991 Jonathan Demme film "Silence of the Lambs," which depicted the cannibalistic killer in prison. The movie won five Oscars, including a sweep of best picture, best director for Demme, best actor for Hopkins and best actress for Jodie Foster.
The NBC series has received a 13-episode order and will focus on the relationship between FBI profiler Will Graham, played by Hugh Dancy, and Lecter.
“It’s before he was incarcerated, so he’s more of a peacock,” Fuller said. "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.”
Fuller plans to reverse the gender of a couple of characters, with the project based on the Thomas Harris book "Red Dragon," the story notes. Dr. Alan Bloom will become Dr. Alana Bloom, while tabloid journalist Freddy Lounds will become a blogger named Fredricka Lounds, the piece adds.
Fuller also noted that he has talked with director-producer Bryan Singer about rebooting the "Star Trek" franchise, although it’s unlikely the franchise would return to TV while the movie franchise is still turning out films based on the premise, the story says.
"I don’t think anything is going to happen in any official capacity until after the next movie comes out. And I’m sure it would be wisely under J.J. Abrams’ purview of what happens. He’s the guardian of ‘Trek’ right now," Fuller said.
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