'Hannibal' Season 4 News: What Could a New Installment Bring?
"Hannibal" is, in many ways, similar to its main character when the show was first picked up by NBC. With the network themselves perhaps not fully aware of how the show will turn out, the cancellation of "Hannibal" in the middle of its third season left fans wondering what could have been in store for a theoretical season 4.
For one thing, the story of NBC's adaptation of "Hannibal" has not even come close to reaching the timeline of "The Silence of the Lambs," the iconic storyline around Hannibal Lecter.
Creator Bryan Fuller has guided the series with a steady, patient hand, sticking to his formula of crime procedural and elaborate production, which meant that there was still plenty of time before the story of "Hannibal" culminates in Lecter's meeting with Clarice, as Den of Geek notes.
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Until then, a "Hannibal" season 4 would have treated fans to more of Lecter's attempts to turn Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) into a psychopath like himself. Graham's story is part of what kept fans hooked every week on the show, waiting on whether he will eventually descend to embrace his inner monster or not.
Going slow on taking on "The Silence of the Lambs" story has not been just a matter of pacing for Fuller and the team. There's also a still ongoing issue with the rights to the movie's source material, and it has prevented "Hannibal" from going full steam into the story of Clarice and Lecter.
Fans got some closure with the abrupt but still spectacular ending of "Hannibal" season 3. That ending still leaves some room for a continuation, even though Fuller himself admits that chances are slim.
It ultimately depends on the resolution of the legal and rights issues surrounding "Hannibal" if a season 4 is possible, as well as the availability of its high-profile stars like Mads Mikkelsen and Lawrence Fishburne. The demand from fans, as well as the creative drive of Fuller and the rest of the "Hannibal" crew, ensures that the possibility is always there.
