Playing Hannibal Lecter is a daunting task. Anthony Hopkins won his first Oscar playing the genius cannibalistic serial killer in Silence of the Lambs and the character has been at the center of several novels and films. Well, NBC believes it has found a man up to the challenge. Mads Mikkelsen has just been cast as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the new series, Hannibal.
Mikkelsen has been in the acting game for over two decades but American audiences didn’t truly take notice until he played Bond villain Le Chiffre in Casino Royale. Since his breakthrough role opposite Daniel Craig, Mikkelsen has appeared in Quantum of Solace, Clash of the Titans, The Three Muskateers, and The Hunt.
Hugh Dancy will star opposite Mikkelsen in the new show. Dancy will play FBI agent Will Graham. (Edward Norton played Will Graham opposite Anthony Hopkins in the movie Red Dragon.)
TV Guide reports that the show will be a “contemporary thriller” and will feature other characters from the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. The show won’t be a continuation of the Red Dragon movie, but will instead re-introduce the characters at the beginning of their relationship.
NBC has already ordered 13-episodes for Hannibal, which will debut mid-season.
Mikkelsen has a daunting task ahead of him but he definitely has the acting chops to handle the role. Mikkelsen was just awarded the best actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his work in The Hunt.
Here’s the trailer for The Hunt. (Contains brief male nudity.)
Do you think Mads Mikkelsen will be a good Hannibal Lecter?