‘Hannibal’ Creator Says Says “Everybody Wants to Return” for Season 4

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As a huge fan of Hannibal, I was thrilled to hear from Bryan Fuller, the show’s creator, that he’s still thinking about bringing it back! He explained why, in this age of endless reboots and revivals, Hannibal hasn’t joined them yet – it all comes down to tricky rights issues. But the really great news is that, aside from the people holding the purse strings, everyone involved – including Hugh Dancy (Will Graham) and Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal Lecter) – is eager to revisit those deliciously dark characters and stories. Seriously, that makes me so hopeful!

Bryan Fuller recently discussed his new film, Dust Bunny, on the podcast The Horror Queers. The movie, which comes out in theaters December 12th, marks another collaboration with Mads Mikkelsen, but in a very different kind of fantasy horror story. While on the podcast, Fuller also addressed the possibility of reviving his popular NBC series, and explained the main reasons why bringing it back is currently challenging.

The original cast is eager to reprise their roles, including Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Laurence Fishburne, Katie Isabelle, Caroline Dhavernas, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Aaron Abrams, and Scott Thompson. However, plans are currently complicated by the recent passing of producer Martha de Laurentiis.

The rights to the original material are returning to Thomas Harris, the author of the books. While MGM/Amazon currently holds some of those rights, sorting everything out is proving more complicated than expected. We’re actively working on it, and I’m continuing to push for everyone to come to an agreement.

‘Hannibal’ Season 4 or a Modern Version of ‘The Silence of the Lambs’?


NBC

Despite the challenges with securing rights for Hannibal, Bryan Fuller has ideas for future projects. While a fourth season is still possible, he’s reiterated his desire to create a TV adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs set in the present day. Surprisingly, he believes obtaining the necessary rights for that show would be simpler than continuing Hannibal.

I’m exploring the possibility of adapting The Silence of the Lambs in a way that isn’t tied to the existing Hannibal series and its studio, Gaumont. Since you can’t copyright an actor’s performance, we’re looking into how much creative freedom we have. We’re hoping to find a way to move forward with the adaptation without being restricted by the current rights situation.

Fuller shared that a potential Season 4 would continue the storyline established in Season 3 and build on the changes that, according to Fuller, finally moved the show in the right direction.

I have a clear idea of what a fourth season of Hannibal would be like, and I actually found the first season a bit disappointing. It felt too much like a standard crime show with a new murder to solve each week, which didn’t really grab me. I enjoyed Season 2 more, but Season 3 was when the show really hit its stride – it was the kind of storytelling I hoped Hannibal would deliver. I know some people dislike Season 3, but to me, that means they wouldn’t appreciate a Season 4 at all, because it would continue that same, more unconventional path. If you’re not a fan of where Season 3 went, you probably won’t enjoy the proposed direction for Season 4.

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2025-11-21 13:18