A three-season horror thriller, Hannibal has given its unique aesthetic spin to most of the characters and events from Thomas Harris’ original novels, notably missing out on Silence Of The Lambs, which would thrive under its gaze.
Hannibal Lecter is a character who has been adapted to the screen a few times. Anthony Hopkins’ 1991 portrayal of the cannibalistic serial killer was without a doubt the most famous until 2013 when Hannibal went on air. Mads Mikkelsen has become the quintessential Hannibal to many fans, equal parts intelligent, charming, and terrifying. Alongside him, Hugh Dancy plays an extremely nuanced and emotive Will Graham.
The show has so far portrayed two of the franchise’s three most famous characters, missing out only on Clarice Starling. Show-runner Bryan Fuller has been candid about his struggles to get the rights to the character from MGM. Recently, CBS announced it did secure the rights for a new spin-off show that will explore Clarice’s backstory. However, Fuller doesn’t think this means an end to any possibility of a fourth Hannibal season. Hannibal ends on a literal cliff-hanger, meaning there is plenty of room for a renewal that gives space to include the FBI agent.
Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal Would Update Clarice Starling
Fuller has talked specifically about how he would develop Clarice. Jodie Foster’s 1991 portrayal is perhaps the most famous, but Fuller has expressed plans that would take the character in a different direction. Initially, Fuller named Ellen Page as his ideal casting, which goes in line with established concepts about the character. Small but tough, this version would continue to highlight the inherent sexism of the world around her. However, fans of Hannibal need not look farther than Alana Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) to find a character like this already within the show.
Fuller has also expressed interest in going a different direction from the traditional takes and casting Clarice as a black woman. Said Fuller, “There’s something about being poor and white in the South but there’s something else about being poor and black in the South, and I think it could be the necessary gateway into the character, to make Clarice as much our own signature character as we tried to make Will Graham.” A change like this would instill the franchise with an intersectionality it is in drastic need of, updating the commentary of the movie to fit a modern-day audience.
Hannibal Would Delve Deeper Into Elements Of The Original Silence Of The Lambs Novel
The Silence Of The Lambs is one of the most beloved interpretations of Harris’ books. Although extremely faithful in tone and general plot, there were still several elements left behind in the story’s move towards the big screen. Hannibal, with its 13-episode format, would have the space to explore these, something Fuller has expressed an interest in. On the whole, Hannibal Lecter plays a bigger role in the book than in the movie, something that would likely change for the television series named after him. The movie also misses out on much of the inner politics of the FBI that are explored in the book. These are already well-established in the television series and could easily bear further exploration. Hannibal has been extremely skillful in its adaptation of its source material so far, so fans can only hope Fuller will get the support he needs to give his take on Silence Of The Lambs.