‘Hannibal’ Made a Thriller Icon Even Better, and It Still Deserves a Part 4

Ever since the turn of the century, Hollywood has been saturated with remakes that have been deemed unnecessary for the most part. While the outrage against these recreations waned over the years, they’re still met with rejection from fans who are able to identify the studio’s usual intention: to monetize past work. However, some remakes are undoubtedly worth checking out, and in a few cases they’re actually better than their source material.

TV remakes aren’t typically the way to go about reviving a beloved title. Serializing a story that was written as a feature is a risk, because there are not many ways to do it but to stretch the story thin across multiple episodes. Those that have become winners in the format include The Exorcist, which began as a reboot but became a sequel, and Scream, which fully rebooted the film series and didn’t make any reference to it. There’s also Cobra Kai and What We Do in the Shadows, two shows that took a spin-off approach. Fargo, on the other hand, turned into an unrelated anthology, which works because it deliberately avoids revisiting the original 1996 film.

That brings us to Hannibal, the Bryan Fuller TV series based on the Hannibal Lecter books by Thomas Harris, previously adapted into films such as Manhunter and The Silence of the Lambs. The three-season TV remake delivered a completely new version of the iconic psychologist/serial killer, cleverly expanding the lore and central traits of the character made famous by Anthony Hopkins. Currently available to stream on Shudder and Prime Video, Hannibal is more than a worthwhile TV remake, and you should see sooner rather than later.

How ‘Hannibal’ Is Better Than All Hannibal Lecter Movie Adaptations

Even though it’s titled Hannibal, and that’s the title of a book in Harris’ original series (and its film adaptation), Fuller’s TV remake doesn’t follow the timeline of its source material. It takes plenty of narrative liberties to become a completely different and very interesting adaptation of the original concept.

At the center of the series is Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), the FBI profiler who bonds with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) when he’s hired to evaluate if Will is capable of performing his duties. Lecter is, of course, a talented and charismatic serial killer who will do everything it takes to continue his run as a cannibal – even framing Will for his crimes and diverting attention away from Lecter.

Season 1 follows the events of Harris’ first book in the franchise, Red Dragon, but omits a major part of the plot. Season 2 expands by continuing the events of the novel, but once again, it diverges significantly from it. Season 3 features the Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage) storyline from Red Dragon, but also includes plot points from the novels The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. The series ends with a completely fictional expansion that sees Will and Hannibal in a final confrontation that’s not in the original book series.

Is ‘Hannibal’ Season 4 Still Possible?

Hannibal is one of those shows whose cult following has remained strong throughout the years. Its fans have pleaded for the return of the series since it officially wrapped up in 2015. Ironically, NBC claims that the show was cancelled because viewers didn’t tune in. This raises the question of whether the series would be as popular if it returned.

There’s always a possibility that the show could return with Season 4. Fans want it, as well as the cast and crew. Last we heard, Fuller explained to The Horror Queers podcast that there are some rights issues with the franchise, but he’s constantly pushing to revive the series: “Everybody wants to return…I keep on touching base and trying to encourage folks to get back together.”

Naturally, the biggest question is if the show can return and, at the same time, capture the same spirit that made it such a unique TV adaptation. The chemistry of its ensemble cast was undeniable, and the visuals were edgy, to say the least. It managed to channel the essence of Thomas Harris’ original novels without recreating what we had already seen in the movie adaptations. It became its own thing, relying on the bizarre, almost romantic relationship between hero and foe.

But is there more to be told about Will and Hannibal’s unique bond? Though the films are also notable adaptations, their relationship and where it ultimately leads still make Hannibal one of the most binge-worthy thrillers in existence.