Hannibal Could Continue, Fourth Season Already Planned
It’s been just a few short hours since NBC revealed the decision to cancel its critically acclaimed drama Hannibal. However, as happens with most shows with passionate fanbases, the potential for Hannibal to be picked up by another network or streaming service is already being talked about. It wouldn’t be totally unprecedented, either, as showrunner Bryan Fuller has already revealed plans for a potential Season 4.
On Monday, NBC cancelled Hannibal, but now various outlets are reporting the series could find a second life elsewhere. The emphasis is still on the word “could” at this point, as no deals have been finalized and no companies have expressed formal interest at this juncture. But Deadline says that there is “significant interest” in the series, also noting that Amazon is the outlet that has the exclusive rights to the show and could be a good fit. In addition, production company DeLaurentiis Co. has already noted it will explore all options. It also helps that Bryan Fuller is on a social media crusade, encouraging all “fannibals” to tune in in the attempt to save the show.
Fuller also spoke with TV Line following the big upset from NBC, noting that Season 4 has already been planned. He wouldn’t go into detail about the premise on the chance the show does get picked up by another outlet, but he did note the following regarding a fourth season:
Hannibal has always been known for its beautiful cinematography and its tight storylines, and Season 3 has been well-reviewed. Regardless, the show was bleeding in viewership each week, with recent episodes only bringing in around 1.6 million total viewers. That might be acceptable on some channels, but it’s a really, really low number for network TV—even network TV in the summer, when viewership is traditionally down. On the bright side, NBC still has plans to air out the rest of Season 3 on the network. And since Hannibal has a little time before it is officially off the air, the show still has the ability to wheel and deal in the attempt to find a new home before the actors contracts run out and they all begin to look for brand new projects. We'll let you know if Hannibal earns a second life, after all.
CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Jessica Rawden is Managing Editor at CinemaBlend. She’s been kicking out news stories since 2007 and joined the full-time staff in 2014. She oversees news content, hiring and training for the site, and her areas of expertise include theme parks, rom-coms, Hallmark (particularly Christmas movie season), reality TV, celebrity interviews and primetime. She loves a good animated movie. Jessica has a Masters in Library Science degree from Indiana University, and used to be found behind a reference desk most definitely not shushing people. She now uses those skills in researching and tracking down information in very different ways.
‘I Was Laughed Out Of The Room Because It Was Hallmark.’ Awkward’s Nikki DeLoach Talks Making Her Christmas Movie Pivot And Why She Knew It Was A Great Idea (Though She Took Flak)
Hailey Bieber Went As Kim Possible For Halloween With Justin Bieber, And It's The Disney Throwback I Didn't Know I Needed