Firstly, were due to meet a different kind of Hannibal in a very different kind of setting.
The seasons second six-episode chapter introduces Richard Armitage as Francis Dolarhyde, a character familiar toRed Dragonfans.
You mean why it was pushed back?
It was horribly misguided and not particularly smart and the shows were incomplete.
But you won the argument eventually?
We did, thankfully!
Youve talked before about season three completely reinventing Hannibals origin story.
Can you be specific about what it was in particular you found dissatisfying about the one given inHannibal Rising?
That felt more powerful.
That felt more mythological in its origin story as opposed to Nazis ate my sister.
Did you ever consider just not delving into Hannibals origin story?
You said before about theStar Warsprequels that seeing a villain as a child can de-fang them?
The origin story that we do in season three is very tricky in that we dont do flashbacks.
We meet people who survived that era and have a tale to tell about that experience.
Thats how we walked that very fine line.
And I suppose thats where Lady Murasaki comes in?
Thats another shift we took.
Do you have a clear idea of how you want to end the show overall?
We have another drop the mic moment at the end ofthisseason.
Once again, we approach this show always working under the assumption that every season is our last season.
Were there other seeds sown back then that are being harvested in season three?
Yes, there are a few seeds that crop up in season three.
Gillian Andersons character, Bedelia Du Maurier, has a very significant role in that arc.
Am I right in thinking that weve already had a glimpse of Francis Dolarhydes work?
Unless thats just a mad internet theory Im spouting!
That was an embellishment that we had designed to come back to.
For which role youve bagged the wonderful Richard Armitage, another great UK actor.
Its very effective in its purpose of setting out to confuse the audience.
Our prerogative is really to complicate heroes and villains, theres a tremendous amount of grey.
Are we about to meet Hannibal the action star?
Did that come to you in a vision?
Thats not to say that we get rid of the fancy suits, because he has beautiful suits too.
Oh, Ive seen the promo pictures, hes still very chic.
Its very important that hes styled as chic as is humanly possible.
It was important to keep the fashion plates rotating around Mads Mikkelsen, because he just wears themsowell.
Its interesting that you mention James Bond.
You once said that Hannibals plastic kill-suit was a deliberateDr.
So this is one in a long line of Bond references inHannibal?
What other Bond references can we look out for in season three?
Theyll be peppered through, little subtleties such as those, that we used to buttress our Bond fetish!
I was interested to see that Alana has her own plaid tailored suit in season three.
Is that a deliberate channelling of Hannibal for her?
Can we expect her to become more of a force next season?
That was something we were very conscious about needing to rectify this season.
So thats a very good catch, and exactly what we were trying to do.
The trick with David Bowie right now is that he is so incredibly busy.
We just hope our calendars schedule.
So youd be flexible about which character he could play should he become available in future?
I would love to write a very dark comedic role for him.
Keep up the campaign.
Now, if youll allow me a bit of a conspiracy theory here.
I have such a crush on that man.
Or a coded message that you two are finally working together?
Im on Twitter so sporadically when Im in the heat of things, and I missed that Tweet.
Can you update us on your progress there?
Its going along nicely.
In terms of casting, are you making offers at this stage?
We havent made anofferbut weve made an approach to one actor in particular.
It all hinges on the final trigger being pulled by Starz.
And when that trigger is pulled, what timescale are you looking at?
When might we expect casting announcements to start arriving?
Thats important to all of us.
We have to be moving forward with a representation that is accurate to the world.
It has to look like 2015 up there.
It really does, and theres no excuse withAmerican Gods.
Finally, whereabouts on your list of priorities right now is bringing Star Trek back to television?
Its very high up.
Bryan Fuller, thank you very much!
Special thanks to Den Of Geeks resident Fannibals,Laura AkersandGabriel Bergmoser.
