Parting is such sweet sorrow, whether it’s a loved one, a TV show, or an appendage. While Hannibal fans may never again get to see new episodes of the outrageously high-quality horror drama, the universe has thankfully provided us one more peek into that world through an unsettling PETA commercial starring Gillian Anderson. Check out the awesomeness below.
We all know that anything with Gillian Anderson in it demands viewing, and this ad is particularly poignant, particularly if you’re into the message it’s delivering. Anderson – or is it Bedelia? – is sitting at Hannibal Lecter’s dinner table, seemingly getting ready to tackle a huge meal all by herself. And then by the end of it, the saying “you are what you eat” becomes ridiculously timely, as it’s revealed she’s about to eat her own leg! Soylent Green is people! That meal is out on a limb! Leggo my leg, yo! I’m done now.
Appropriately, this spot was directed by Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller, who not only has ties to the show itself, but also firmly believes in what PETA stands for. Fuller has been a vegetarian for years, and has said publically that his work on Hannibal has made him even more sensitive to animals being used as food. Here’s what he had to say about it.
Writing Hannibal made me realize that human beings and other animals have more similarities than differences. It had a direct impact on how I view meat and what I put in my body. Eating another sentient being is no different than eating another human being in my mind. The trauma of Hannibal cuts both ways.
Thankfully, meat consumption has nothing to do with artistic vision, and Fuller brought his A-game to the ad. It’s truly one of the more gorgeous commercials out there, regardless of how disturbing it is.
Fans are still keeping hope alive that Hannibal will be allowed to continue beyond Season 3, which concluded earlier this year. There’s a chance that it could live on in movie form, though it’s unlikely that a future on TV is in the cards, given Fuller’s preference that the creation process be an organic and timely one, rather than sped up just to hit a specific schedule window.
Fuller’s followers – Fullerwers? – can look forward to seeing his work on screen again when Starz debuts the Neil Gaiman adaptation American Gods next year. And Anderson adorers are well aware that she’ll be reprising her role as Dana Scully in Fox’s upcoming X-Files revival kicking off in January.
