27 replies to this topic

[MajorB]

From TV Line:

Warning to census takers with attitude problems: NBChas cast its Hannibal Lecter.

Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) has landed the title role in Hannibal, the Peacock’s contemporary series take on the characters from Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon novel.

The project, written and exec-produced by Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller and slated to debut at midseason, centers on the budding relationship between FBI agent Will Graham (played by Hugh Dancy) and his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter – who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship.

Mikkelsen just picked up the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt. He was recently cast as the lead villain in Marvel’s upcoming Thor sequel.

Link: http://tvline.com/20...bc/#more-334627

[Wade]

This makes me very, very happy! Eat 'em up, Mads!

[talos7]

^{Great choice.}

[SecretAgentFan]

Interesting. But I don´t have the slightest idea how to make this character work on network television. Or television at all.

For me, Lecter worked best in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS where he was used sparingly, like the shark in JAWS.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Interesting. But I don´t have the slightest idea how to make this character work on network television. Or television at all.

For me, Lecter worked best in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS where he was used sparingly, like the shark in JAWS.

I quite agree

[Dustin]

Actually I thought that whole Hannibal Lecter hype was already a bit passé. Serial killers are a dime a dozen today, likewise cannibals. And the civilised viewership today has even serial killers killing serial killers to entertain their numbed tastes with more refined, even more sensational forms of brutalised barbarism. How is Lecter supposed to keep up with this? Society has basically turned into the cellar they kept him in Baltimore, and there Lecter was by and far the least obtrusive character. Competing with current media hunger for content and ratings they would have become very explicit on a weekly basis. Not that I would think such was beyond the basic abilities of modern TV, I just think it wouldn't be Lecter any more.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Sounds interesting, I wish it would be on a different network, just because of the nature of the character and series. Maybe AMC have it run on Sundays either before or after The Walking Dead. I think Mads can pull it off though, I think he can make the character creepy I mean he has the look.

[tdalton]

I've been looking forward to this series long before they cast Mikkelsen as Lecter. I must say, though, that I can't say Mikkelsen would have been a name that I would have thought of for Lecter, but I'll certainly reserve judgment on that until the series premieres sometime early next year, as I had a similar reaction when he was announced as Le Chiffre, and that turned out pretty well.

I'm glad that this is on NBC as well. Assuming that it's done right (a big assumption, of course) it could help pull NBC out of the rut it's been in for a long time now. Now that they've reportedly dug themselves out of last place amongst the networks (I think I read they beat ABC by a fraction of a percentage point), I think that a successful Hannibal could really help lay a good foundation for the network moving forward, alongside The Voice, Sunday Night Football, and Smash.

[tdalton]

HANNIBAL, starring Mads Mikkelsen, finally has a premiere date:  April 4 at 10pm.  Entertainmentweekly.com has an article with a new picture of Mikkselsen as Hannibal Lecter as well as a brief trailer that will begin airing on NBC sometime in the near future (warning: there are a couple of shots of what some could consider somewhat graphic gore in the trailer.  I doubt anyone here would be put off by it, and it is going to air on network TV, but just putting that information out there to be on the safe side):

 

'HANNIBAL' first NBC Trailer

[Iceskater101]

I heard about this.. I have always seen Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal so I am wondering what this will be like. I kind of want to watch it though.

[S K Y F A L L]

Wow, I just scene the trailer on youtube and think this looks great and after watching all the films early this year I'm hungry for more.  

[Iceskater101]

Interesting ^ and I might watch the premiere of this just to see if I like it.

[tdalton]

I'm really liking everything that I've seen with regards to this project.  Sadly, though, it won't last long on NBC's schedule.  

 

This is a project that really should have been pitched to either HBO or Showtime.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I'm really liking everything that I've seen with regards to this project.  Sadly, though, it won't last long on NBC's schedule.  

 

This is a project that really should have been pitched to either HBO or Showtime.

 

I agree, it was a wrong move having it on NBC, AMC would have been better.

[tdalton]

I'm really liking everything that I've seen with regards to this project.  Sadly, though, it won't last long on NBC's schedule.  

 

This is a project that really should have been pitched to either HBO or Showtime.

 

I agree, it was a wrong move having it on NBC, AMC would have been better.

 

It's a shame that a project with such talent behind it is going to get axed very quickly and only be remembered as a failure.  By default, it's going to be no worse than the third best project to feature Hannibal Lecter, as the trailers that they've released for this project are already more entertaining than Red Dragon or Hannibal Rising.  There's really too much talent involved with this for it to be an outright failure, but the fact that it's on NBC means that it ultimately will be just that.  

[SecretAgentFan]

I must say the trailers underwhelm me. Too much ground already covered by the films, and Mikelsen is nowhere near as charismatic, his vocal delivery sounds mumbled.

 

Also, I have the feeling that THE FOLLOWING stole this new series´ thunder. 

 

It also seems that they want to stress blood and gore instead of doing a psychologically interesting take on these characters.

[tdalton]

I must say the trailers underwhelm me. Too much ground already covered by the films, and Mikelsen is nowhere near as charismatic, his vocal delivery sounds mumbled.

 

Also, I have the feeling that THE FOLLOWING stole this new series´ thunder. 

 

It also seems that they want to stress blood and gore instead of doing a psychologically interesting take on these characters.

 

The Following hasn't really had a chance to steal Hannibal's thunder because NBC hasn't done anything to make the general public aware of Hannibal in the first place.  I would venture to guess that the Average Joe Q. Public has absolutely no idea when Hannibal is set to premiere.  Unless they plan to absolutely promote the hell out of this series during the week and a half between the return of The Voice and the premiere of Hannibal, the show will be dead on arrival.  

 

I don't really see, however, that they're using too much material from the films.  The series is really more of a prequel to Red Dragon, although it seems to borrow the idea of pulling Will Graham out of retirement.  Aside from that, the series seems like it's going to be about the investigation that ultimately leads to the capture of Hannibal Lecter, something which none of the films have touched on (I don't really think the pre-titles for Red Dragon count as having touched on that subject).

[SecretAgentFan]

I actually still hope that the series is worthwhile. Bryan Fuller is a good writer/showrunner.

 

I just think that the attention (and success) that THE FOLLOWING has gotten makes HANNIBAL an "also ran". NBC not really promoting it will not help either.

 

And many shots in the trailer (for example the gutted victim hanging with arms outstretched, the victim with the covered eyes) just reminded me just too much of "Lambs" or "Dragon" - I was hoping for a really fresh handling of the ideas in Harris´ books. In addition to that, the general problem with prequels for me is the predictability of events. I already know that Lecter will become evil, that Graham almost loses his mind, and the relentless scenes with Lecter eating or preparing food also felt annoyingly obvious to me. 

 

Maybe it´s the trailer´s fault - it seems to be cut together to remind everybody that this is connected to "Lambs" and "Dragon". But those who know the films don´t have to be reminded (so much), and those who have no idea who Hannibal Lecter is will probably think: so what, another serial killer thing, I already know that "evil mastermind plays games with police and victims"-angle from "The Following" and countless other thrillers.

[tdalton]

IGN has a review of the pilot episode of Hannibal.  According to them it's excellent.

 

Hannibal Review

[Iceskater101]

I want to watch the pilot and see if I like it.. when did the pilot premiere or has it not premiered yet?

[x007AceOfSpades]

I'll wait for a review to come out that isn't from IGN. Can't stand IGN.

[S K Y F A L L]

I want to watch the pilot and see if I like it.. when did the pilot premiere or has it not premiered yet?

The series will premiere on NBC on Thursday April 4, 2013 10/9c.

[Iceskater101]

Ah okay, I mean I am pretty devoted to anthony hopkins but Entertainment Weekly gave it an A- so now I feel like I have to watch it..

[tdalton]

Ah okay, I mean I am pretty devoted to anthony hopkins but Entertainment Weekly gave it an A- so now I feel like I have to watch it..

 

Good to hear another site has given it a great review.  I missed the EW review when it was put out a few days ago, but thanks for giving me the heads up that they had already written one.  

 

Here's the review, if anyone's interested:  EW reviews NBC's Hannibal

[Iceskater101]

Yeah I will probably watch it online when I get the chance, I am already behind an episode of arrow, and two episodes of the big bang theory so I need to catch up.

[tdalton]

The ratings for NBC's Hannibal are in:

 

According to EW.com's article this afternoon, Hannibal scored 4.3 million viewers and a 1.6 rating in the 18-49 demo.  Apparently this is NBC's highest rating in the "death slot" (as EW refers to it) of Thursday at 10pm.

Edited by tdalton, 05 April 2013 - 07:59 PM.

[S K Y F A L L]

I must say I really enjoyed it, I'll probably keep watching it. I liked the transitions shots between scenes and tense scenes themselves. I suspect Fishborn's character for some reason, its really open ended. I didn't think Gram should have killed that man if he had taken him alive he may well could of found out about Lecktors involvement. 

[Iceskater101]

I want to watch the first season, I watched the pilot and it was interesting... but I don't know if I like the way they are portraying will graham.