‘Hannibal’ Canceled By NBC: No Fourth Season For ‘Hannibal’ After All
Hannibal, canceled by NBC, won’t be back for a fourth season.
NBC canceled Hannibal following some rough ratings to begin the third season. This could potentially leave fans in the lurch, especially because producers of the show haven’t been given a lot of lead time to wrap up storylines. As reported by EW.com on Monday (June 22), NBC does plan on airing all the episodes that have been filmed for Season 3.
The decision by the network may be surprising to fans but not to anyone that has been watching the Hannibal ratings closely. For the last episode of the show (June 18), the rating was just 0.5 for adults 18-49. That’s a terrible estimated rating, particularly because that is the key demographic the network wants viewing this show. It followed some low marks at the beginning of Season 3 and continued a downward trend for the Hannibal ratings.
NBC released an extended statement about the cancellation, giving thanks to fans and other people who helped make the show work. Showrunner Bryan Fuller was also referenced in the press release.
“We have been tremendously proud of Hannibal over its three seasons. [Showrunner Bryan Fuller] and his team of writers and producers, as well as our incredible actors, have brought a visual palette of storytelling that has been second to none in all of television — broadcast or cable. We thank Gaumont and everyone involved in the show for their tireless efforts that have made Hannibal an incredible experience for audiences around the world.”
Not surprisingly, Bryan Fuller has also released his own statement, taking the high road and making comments that could keep him on the good side of the network.
“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. Jen Salke and her team have been fantastic partners and creatively supportive beyond measure. Hannibal is finishing his last course at NBC’s table this summer, but a hungry cannibal can always dine again. And personally, I look forward to my next meal with NBC.”
As previously reported on the Inquisitr, Hannibal had created some controversy due to its violent source material, but it still found a following on NBC. It got pushed back on the schedule for Season 3, though, and it was on a very short leash from the network. When the Hannibal ratings for Season 3 didn’t rebound in a way that network executives like to see, it became only a matter of time until the show was going to get canceled. Though canceled, the show will run out its episodes in the current Thursday night time slot.
[Image Source: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images]
