While “Hannibal” producers continue to look into a new home for the series after NBC’s cancellation, showrunner Bryan Fuller and star Hugh Dancy are letting viewers know how much they appreciate their fervent support of the show.
At “Hannibal’s” Comic-Con panel, Fuller told the crowd if the show doesn’t return in some form, he would miss the “Fannibals” the most. “The connection that we had with a very special fan community that has been so overwhelmingly supportive and passionate – I feel like we’re all going to take Fannibals with us wherever we go,” he said. Later he added, “It’s particularly inspiring and beautiful, really, to have a low-rated show where the ratings weren’t great, and then you look at the response of the Fannibals, and it’s the best hug that you could imagine.”
Dancy agreed: “To be part of something that feels like it was so embraced and engaged with, with such open-heartedness and love and enthusiasm, has been an amazing experience.”
At a press conference following the panel, Dancy said the show has meant an enormous amount to him. “It’s been challenging in the work, and unique… where it’s felt like an incredible collaboration because of Bryan’s generosity, [and the] collaboration with Mads, who I love. This is very bittersweet being here. I don’t expect to have an experience of this nature for a long time, if ever again. It’s been so profound.”
Producer Martha De Laurentiis also took time to praise the show’s loyal fans: “They have stayed with the show from the first season, first episode. What they immediately started to identify with were both characters, Will Graham or Hannibal Lecter. They’re smart. Our audience is a more mature, smarter audience that appreciates the subtleties, appreciates the scale of which things are done – the music, the cinematography, the cast, the sets, the writing. So it’s given [the cast and writers] a lot to play on, and we appreciate that. That’s what’s supported us.”
Fuller explained at the Comic-Con panel that Netflix and Amazon have passed on the cannibal drama, but not out of disinterest. “Netflix couldn’t do it because of the Amazon streaming,” he revealed. (Amazon currently holds the streaming rights for the first two seasons.) “And Amazon would like to have done it but they wanted to do it very quickly and I wanted to be able to get all the scripts in advance before we started shooting the fourth season. With their desire to put it out immediately, it was just impossible to do for us.”
But he also told a delighted crowd they were looking at the possibility of shooting a feature film. “Hugh and Mads are very committed to the show and would love to continue with the show. The way this season ends, there may be an opportunity for a little break, and then hopefully we’ll find a way to bring Mads and Hugh back to you.”
Whatever happens, it’s clear that Fuller and the cast have enjoyed the ride. We were thrilled to be invited to their Comic-Con press conference, during which Fuller, Dancy, De Laurentiis and new cast member Richard Armitage – who plays Francis Dolarhyde/The Red Dragon in the second half of the season – all took time to answer media questions. Among other things, they talked about the challenges of finding a new home for the series, what it’s been like breaking from the procedural format this season, who they think is the smartest character on the show and what the “Hannibal” experience has meant to them.
We put together this video of the press conference for all of the Fannibals. We hope you enjoy it!
