NBC’s HANNIBAL Series Cancelled

Today is a sad one for fans of NBC's Hannibal, as it's been revealed that the currently in progress third season of the series will be the final one. Hannibal has been cancelled.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC has given Bryan Fuller's TV series adaptation of Thomas Harris' novels the axe, and rights issues could be one potential reason why the series won't be moving forward. Clarice Starling, the character played by Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore on film, was thus far unable to be included in the series due to NBC not having the rights to her character.

The Starling factor is certainly not the only reason for Hannibal's cancellation. Ratings for Hannibal's third season have been relatively low, though the show continues to receive high praise from both fans of the Dr. Hannibal Lecter novels and films, as well as those who are newcomers to the cannibal killer stories. Via THR, Fuller made the following statement on the cancellation:

"NBC has allowed us to craft a television series that no other broadcast network would have dared, and kept us on the air for three seasons despite Cancelation Bear Chow ratings and images that would have shredded the eyeballs of lesser Standards & Practices enforcers... Hannibal is finishing his last course at NBC’s table this summer, but a hungry cannibal can always dine again. And personally, I look forward to my next meal with NBC."

The season three finale—and now series finale—of Hannibal will air on September 3rd.