Since the first announcement of NBC’s move to adapt Thomas Harris’ “Hannibal” to the small screen, we’ve been on the fence, but the show is quickly shaping up to be one to watch. After signing up Mads Mikkelsen to play the titular role opposite Hugh Dancy’s FBI agent Will Graham, the show has now added Laurence Fishburne, last seen on the small screen in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” as “Jack Crawford, the head of the FBI’s behavioral sciences unit.”
Fishburne is the latest actor to inherit the role, following Harvey Keitel in the Brett Ratner-helmed “Red Dragon,” Scott Glenn in “The Silence Of The Lambs” and Dennis Farina in Michael Mann’s underrated “Manhunter.” Showrunner Bryan Fuller (“Pushing Daisies”) has assembled an interesting group of actors to lead his drama series and has tapped former “Daredevil” director David Slade to helm the pilot, which should — considering the subject matter — see him firmly back in “Hard Candy” mode after making a go of it in the blockbuster arena. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Usually when a show is successful enough to warrant another season order, the showrunners don’t change much of anything in the new season, but “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy has opted to tell a completely different story — albeit still in the horror realm — for the second season of “American Horror Story.” Some of the original cast will return to play totally different characters in a story set in an East Coast institution for the criminally insane, and among the familiar cast will be some fresh faces, including “Run Lola Run” and “The Bourne Identity” star Franka Potente. Her role will run a brief two episodes, as she plays a "mysterious patient of the facility." The second season of “American Horror Story” premieres this fall on FX. [TVLine]
After bagging Johnny Depp a couple weeks back, Seth MacFarlane and the folks behind the still-running "Family Guy" continue to snare some pretty decent guest voice gigs. The latest to lend their talents will be Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston, and the ever-present Sean Bean. Details on their appearances are being kept under wraps, but they will be portraying “characters cut from the same cloth," so take that for whatever it's worth. They've already completed their appearances, but no word yet on when it will air. [Total Film]