Hannibal Lecter is arguably one of, if not the most popular villain ever committed to the screen. Though Michael Mann’s brilliant (but box-office flop) Manhunter may have introduced the character cinematically, Hannibal was only embraced by mainstream audiences following the success of 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs which won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture. The character has appeared in numerous films and novels, and has been portrayed by legendary actors such as Brian Cox and Anthony Hopkins. In 2013, Bryan Fuller, creator of beloved series Pushing Daises and Dead Like Me, decided to revamp the character for the small screen and created Hannibal, which ran for three seasons on NBC and starred Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy as Will Graham. Fuller’s take on the lore and characters was psychological, twisted, darkly comic, and artistically bold, and expanded on the themes explored in Thomas Harris’ novels.
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While Hannibal as a series didn’t remain on the air for too long, it earned a cult following and critical acclaim during it’s run. For many fans, Fuller’s take on Hannibal has become the definitive version of the character. From the complex character study of its two leads, imaginative visuals, and unique take on combining its source material, Fuller’s Hannibal certainly makes a case for itself as the best iteration of the Harris characters. Let’s break down the reasons why it stands as the most accomplished take on the character so far, and how Hannibal goes down smooth in the lineage of Lecter adaptations.
Will and Hannibal’s Dynamic
Sony Pictures Television
One of the key relationships in the Hannibal Lecter franchise is that of detective Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter. While it’s briefly explored in films such as the aforementioned Manhunter and Brett Ratner’s Red Dragon, Fuller centers his series around the parallels between the two, and the almost homoerotic relationship which gradually develops. In the series, Lecter serves as Will’s psychologist before the two enter into a cat-and-mouse relationship that drives much of the show’s action. The way Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen portray their characters adds a fresh perspective, and both immerse themselves completely in the roles. Fuller’s storytelling also emphasizes the similarities between them both and explores how Hannibal cares for Will and manipulates him; it’s truly one of the strongest meditations on abusive relationships ever put to film. Each character’s progression from season to season truly gives us the most layered approach yet, and Fuller adds an element of almost Shakespearean tragedy to their twisted dynamic.
In previous adaptations, the Will and Hannibal dynamic was explored in a minimal and surface-level manner. In Fuller’s Hannibal, its given a richer and nuanced approach that redefines both characters. Fuller allows us to see the humanity in both Graham and Lecter, and the end results are surprisingly moving. While there’s been multiple retellings of the Will and Hannibal relationship, Fuller’s version is the most complex and personal take to date.
The Visual Aesthetic
NBC
For a character such as the fine-wine-drinking, exquisitely-dressed Hannibal Lecter, appearance means everything. Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal took that motto to heart when it came to the visual department. Fuller has a knack for imaginative and surreal imagery, and Hannibal is filled to the brim with those touches. The murders in the series are both grotesque yet beautiful, and full of stunning sequences. Highlights include a man’s body trapped in honey in season one, a barn silo full of aesthetically arranged bodies in season two, and Will Graham’s hallucinations throughout each season which are all surreal yet beautifully filmed and staged. The art direction creates an atmosphere and mood that accentuates the storytelling, and the series also utilizes locations to tremendous effect (such as the first half of season three, which takes place in Venice). In many ways, the visuals of Hannibal are characters themselves; Fuller uses his visual style to both set tone and reveal character which allows viewers to feel truly immersed.
For many series revolving around serial killers, the visual element can be key. For Hannibal, Bryan Fuller brought an artful sensibility to his visuals which led to some truly captivating filmmaking. Fuller even told his directors and crew, “We are not making television. We are making a pretentious art film from the ’80s.” In terms of style, Hannibal may be the most beautifully filmed adaptation yet. Also, the fact that Fuller and company created what they did on prime-time NBC, no less, is truly an achievement in and of itself. Aside from Twin Peaks, there has literally been nothing so visually captivating on cable television as Hannibal.
Reinterpretation of the Source Material
The Thomas Harris novels have spawned many films and adaptations throughout the years. When bringing the series to television, Fuller decided to reinvent characters and plot-lines from the films and novels in order to keep audiences on their toes, as many viewers had read the books and seen the films and thought they knew what to expect. Throughout the series, characters such as Mason and Margo Verger, Francis Doyle AKA the Red Dragon, and Dr. Chilton appear, however their arcs differ from their original interpretations. In season two, for instance, Fuller expands the relationship between Mason and Margo Verger and gives us insight into how he became the deformed villain we saw in 2001’s Hannibal. We also get to see new takes on characters such as Dr. Chilton, originally a minor character in Silence of the Lambs, who is given an arc and motivations of his own in this series.
Fuller also manages to add freshness to characters we’ve seen before. In the case of season three’s Red Dragon arc, we get to spend more time with the Francis Doyle character and gain a deeper understanding of his psyche than in previous versions. Throughout the series, Fuller also weaves in plot points and nods to Hannibal Rising and Silence of The Lambs but manages to add a unique perspective to these elements, even somewhat queering the characters over the course of the show in incredible ways. While most franchises would settle for simple fan service, Fuller manages to both pay tribute and re-examine the history of the character here.
The Casting
With characters as iconic as Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham, casting is a crucial element. Thankfully, both Hugh Dancy and Madds Milkkelsen more than gamely inhabit their respective roles, and both offer an original take on their characters and add gravitas to each of their scenes together. Dancy manages to find the humanity and vulnerability in Graham and Milkkelsen wisely avoids channeling Hopkins in favor of a darkly comic, charming yet chilling take on the character. Despite the strength of its two leads, Hannibal manages to showcase a strong ensemble as well.
Veteran actor Laurence Fishburne fleshes out the character of Jack Crawford, and Caroline Dhavernas adds toughness and humanity to her role as Dr. Alana Bloom. Gillian Anderson as Bedelia Du Maurier Hannibal’s psychiatrist delivers a truly nuanced and haunting performance, and Raul Esparza’s humorous and villainous take on Dr. Chilton is delightful to watch.
The guest stars as well add tremendous value. Michael Pitt’s delightfully vicious turn as Mason Verger in season two is a highlight, Katherine Isabelle delivers a subtle yet affecting turn as Margo Verger, and Richard Armitage delivers a tragic and intimate performance as Francis Doyle in season three. Overall, Hannibal benefits greatly not just from its well-chosen leads, but it’s truly uniform ensemble as well.
It Broke New Ground
It isn’t often that a primetime psychological thriller airing on NBC and adapting a familiar property is said to be innovative. However, Hannibal managed to do just that, bringing something original to the medium. Despite its network of choice, the series had production value and filmmaking worthy of HBO or Showtime, and its take on the crime drama and psychological thriller both subverted the genres and reminded us why we find these types of stories so exciting. Hannibal was also innovative for how it approached its character arcs and long-form narrative, elevating them beyond the tropes of the serialized genre. While Hannibal Lecter had been featured in film before, Fuller was able to convince viewers that there was more story to tell, and redefined our view of the character in the process.
When it comes to groundbreaking television, many shows typically enter the conversation. While Hannibal may not have always received the same level of attention and was always underrated, it more than established its pedigree for inventive storytelling and filmmaking in its brief run. Ultimately, when it comes to adapting a classic character, expectations of doing them justice are likely to arise. For Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal, the team involved managed to craft a distinct and artistic reinterpretation of the source material, using great acting to create powerful relationships, along with brilliant visuals and more interesting psychology. For these reasons, it stands to date as the most accomplished and definitive adaptation of the Hannibal character, and is continuing to garner fans and support to this day.
