Mads Mikkelsen Eyes a Return to His Fan Favorite Thriller ‘Hannibal’ [Exclusive]

Some cancellations of our favorite shows never stop hurting — especially when it feels like a masterpiece was abandoned mid-sentence, and NBC’s Hannibal is firmly in that category. The three-season series is so visually daring, psychologically rich, and artistically strange that its lack of awards and abrupt ending remain baffling almost ten years later. And according to star Mads Mikkelsen, that unfinished story still weighs heavily on the cast.

While speaking with Collider’s Christina Radish ahead of the release of his new film Dust Bunny (in theaters December 12), Mikkelsen didn’t hide his frustration — or his hope. When asked whether he’s still holding out for more, he lit up:

“Yeah. Listen, if that happens, we will all just jump on board without hesitation. It also has to be within a realistic time frame. If I become a great grandfather, it will be a little tricky. So, we’ve got to move now, in the next couple of years, and we will all be up for it.”

Mikkelsen also admitted he’s puzzled that Hollywood hasn’t moved faster, especially considering how revival-happy the industry has become. Dexter returned — a lot, in fact. Justified returned. Twin Peaks came back from the dead. Heck, even Frasier came back. Hannibal seems like an obvious choice — yet nothing’s happened. Mikkelsen told Collider:

“I’m a little surprised, yeah. I don’t understand what numbers you’re supposed to have. I don’t understand exactly what kind of ratings you need to have. I’m not into that. I’m not a producer. But when I see a massive group of fans around the world, and it has such a cult following, and it’s a sizable one – it’s not a small group, there’s a lot of people – in my world, there must be grounds for doing a season, just based on that.”

What Is ‘Hannibal’ About?

On the surface, it appeared like a standard FBI procedural before evolving into a hypnotic dance between profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Mikkelsen’s refined, cannibalistic psychiatrist, Hannibal Lecter. Their relationship became the spine of the show, and Mikkelsen’s portrayal of Lecter was so cultured and composed that audiences couldn’t look away even as he committed horrifying acts. Visually, too, Hannibal was unlike anything on NBC. Murders were staged as grotesque installations. Food preparation was shot like a ritual. Cinematographer James Hawkinson built a series that looked closer to European art cinema than primetime American television.

So where does that leave fans? Mikkelsen’s comments make clear he’s willing — eager, even — to return, but the window is closing. The audience is there. The appetite is there. The cast is ready. All it needs is a studio brave enough to pick up the phone. Until then, you can see Mikkelsen when Dust Bunny arrives on December 12.