The return of NBC's Hannibal was already highly anticipated with the now sophomore horror drama not only making the list of last year's best new shows but also the list of the best shows, period. And the anticipation for Season 2 only grows with each eerie trailer or rad casting announcement. Bryan Fuller knows how to populate a series. Of course, if you watched the first season of the adaptation of Thomas Harris' 'Red Dragon' (or Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me or Wonderfalls), well, you already knew that. But before getting to the fresh meat, first a few more of those eerie trailers with 'A Warning' before seeing 'Hannibal In My Head.'
Okay, enough with the appetizers, it's time for the main course: EW broke the news that Michael Pitt is joining Hannibal as Mason Verger, a recurring role introduced late in the upcoming season. As if the Boardwalk Empire alum boarding the horror series wasn't exciting enough, the fact that he's playing Verger should warrant everyone's attention. Gary Oldman previously played the older Verger in Ridley Scott's Hannibal (a feature based on the book of the same name, the last chronologically in Harris’ series) but this take will show the twisted character before, and perhaps during, the infamous run in with his therapist.
For those who haven't read or watched the other versions of Hannibal, Mason Verger is a very wealthy but, uh, immoral patient of Dr. Lecter who is one of only a few victims to survive an attack from the cannibal. Well, to be fair, Lecter doesn't technically 'attack' the rival psycho, he... you'll see. According to the EW report, the role is being compared to Andrew Scott's Moriarty on Sherlock so expect Pitt to be completely unhinged. Pitt's Mason also isn't the only Verger coming to Hannibal with TVLine recently announcing that Katharine Isabelle was cast to play his sister Margot.
Isabelle is probably best known for playing Ginger in Ginger Snaps or Mary in American Mary and is currently busy with a recurring role on Syfy's Being Human. And like those heroines, Margot is not only 'beautiful and compelling' but also messed-up thanks to growing up with her psychotic and abusive twin brother. She's seeing a psychiatrist about those issues though and might be of romantic interest for one Will Graham. The show's second season will also feature returning guest stars Gillian Anderson, Eddie Izzard and Raul Esparza as well as other newcomers (aka potential dishes) like Jeremy Davies and Chris Diamantopoulos. I told you Fuller knows how to cast.
Hannibal returns for its second season on Thursday, February 28 at 10:00 p.m. ET on NBC. Created by Bryan Fuller and based on the novel 'Red Dragon' by Thomas Harris, the series stars Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas and Laurence Fishburne. Need a recap of Season 1?
