Cannes Winner Mads Mikkelsen To Play Iconic Hannibal Role in NBC Series

Cannes’ Best Actor winner Mads Mikkelsen (“The Hunt”) will play Hannibal Lecter in NBC’s upcoming contemporary-set drama “Hannibal.” Hugh Dancy will co-star in the series, which is written by Bryan Fuller, who executive produces with Martha DeLaurentis. Based on Thomas Harris’ novel “Red Dragon,” Dancy plays FBI agent Will Graham and Mikkelsen is Dr. Lecter.

Mikkelsen’s casting suggests a different take on the character than that of Anthony Hopkins or Brian Cox (Michael Mann’s “Manhunter,” also based on “Red Dragon”). This is something to look forward to: this superb Danish actor is endlessly watchable: see Suzanne Bier’s “Open Hearts” and “After The Wedding,” Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Valhalla Rising,” and Mikkelsen’s take on a Bond villain in “Casino Royale.”

What this accomplishes, most of all, is raising Mikkelsen’s profile and TV Q stateside.

[Deadline]