Despite critical acclaim, a progressive storytelling approach for network television, and perhaps the finest adult drama NBC has been associated with for years, "Hannibal" has been canceled. The current third season will be its last.
READ: How The Surprising Moral Strength Of ‘Hannibal’ Helps To Make It One Of TV’s Best Dramas
It’s perhaps not a big surprise NBC has pulled the plug on the show. Despite strong reviews season after season, the show struggled with ratings, and while it had a devoted core audience, never seemed to strike the mainstream success it would need to stay on one of the major national broadcasters. And it’s a shame as showrunner Bryan Fuller really took a concept that no one thought could work, and created the best saga around Hannibal Lecter since "Silence Of The Lambs," with Mads Mikkelsen making the cannibal character completely his own. And around him was a solid supporting cast, including great work from Hugh Dancy, whose Will Graham becomes mentally unhinged trying to track the monster.
“NBC has allowed us to craft a television series that no other broadcast network would have dared, and kept us on the air for three seasons despite Cancellation Bear Chow ratings and images that would have shredded the eyeballs of lesser Standards & Practices enforcers," Fuller said in a statement, with NBC also saying they were "tremendously proud" to house the show.
But is there a possible future for "Hannibal"? The show is actually produced by French company Gaumont, and has done very well for them internationally. I would truly not be surprised if another network or streaming service steps up to save "Hannibal," and hopefully someone will, because the talent across the board is incredible. And freed from the constraints of network broadcasting, it could be even more chilling than it already is.
However, it remains to be seen if that happens. For the moment, "Hannibal" is no more so let us know your thoughts in the comments section.