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Entertainment • TV Series

Hannibal

Hannibal is an American psychological horror-thriller television series developed by Bryan Fuller for NBC.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Hannibal is an American psychological horror-thriller television series developed by Bryan Fuller for NBC. It follows FBI investigator Will Graham and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, focusing on their evolving cat-and-mouse relationship. The series is based on characters and elements from Thomas Harris’s novels, especially as a prequel to *Red Dragon*.

Premise

The series follows Will Graham, an FBI criminal profiler with unusual empathy for serial killers, as he works cases with psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter. Hannibal secretly has his own murderous agenda, turning their relationship into an ongoing psychological struggle.

Production and source material

Hannibal was developed by Bryan Fuller and draws on Thomas Harris’s novels and characters, particularly *Red Dragon*. The series serves as a prequel-style interpretation of Lecter’s earlier relationship with Graham.

Broadcast history

The show aired on NBC from 2013 to 2015 and consisted of 3 seasons. It was later cancelled after its third season.

Canadian broadcast

The series aired in Canada through Citytv during its original run, making it familiar to Canadian viewers as well as U.S. audiences.

Key facts

  • The series centers on FBI special investigator Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
  • It was developed for NBC by Bryan Fuller.
  • Mads Mikkelsen played Hannibal Lecter, and Hugh Dancy played Will Graham.
  • The series ran for 3 seasons and 39 episodes.
  • It was cancelled after its third season in 2015.
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Canadian context

The series aired in Canada through Citytv during its original run, making it familiar to Canadian viewers as well as U.S. audiences.[3]

Frequently asked questions

What is Hannibal about?
It is about FBI profiler Will Graham working with psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter while unknowingly becoming entangled in Lecter’s violent and manipulative schemes.
Who played Hannibal Lecter?
Mads Mikkelsen played Hannibal Lecter in the TV series.
Is Hannibal based on a book?
Yes. It is based on characters and elements from Thomas Harris’s novels, especially *Red Dragon*, *Hannibal*, and *Hannibal Rising*.
How many seasons of Hannibal are there?
There are 3 seasons.
Is Hannibal a true story?
No. It is a fictional television series based on Thomas Harris’s novels and characters.
What happened to Hannibal?
The series was cancelled after its third season in 2015, ending its NBC run.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_(TV_series)
    Supports: Series premise, developer, source material, seasons, and cast names.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2243973/
    Supports: Series plot and the relationship between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter.
  3. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_(s%C3%A9rie_t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vis%C3%A9e)
    Supports: Three seasons, 39 episodes, and Canadian Citytv broadcast.
  4. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5sf4y1rq6U
    Supports: Three-season run, cancellation, and main cast details in retrospective summary.
  5. Hannibal Fandom — https://hannibal.fandom.com/wiki/Hannibal_(TV_series)
    Supports: Cancellation after the third season and season structure.