News of "Hannibal" being cancelled shocked a lot of fans of the TV series prequel to the 1991 Oscar award-winning movie "Silence of the Lambs." However, fans may have something to hope for as there are rumors that the series could be picked up by another network.
"NBC has allowed us to craft a television series that no other broadcast network would have dared," series creator Bryan Fuller reportedly said in a statement released by NBC, according to E! Online. "And kept us on the air for three seasons despite Cancellation Bear Chow ratings and images that would have shredded the eyeballs of lesser Standards & Practices enforcers."
"Jen Salke and her team have been fantastic partners and creatively supportive beyond measure. 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 line "last course at NBC" triggered speculations that "Hannibal" season 4 could be shown in another network. There are also speculations that a movie deal could be in the works.
Variety reported that producers of the cancelled series have already appealed to fans on Twitter to participate in the #SaveHannibal campaign. This aims to showcase the amount of support for "Hannibal" and hopefully increase its marketability as a program. However, it is yet to be announced whether the show was picked up by another network.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC thanked "Hannibal" producers for the hard work they've done to deliver the series starring Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen. The show's third season reportedly returned on June 4 with 2.57 million total viewers, before it slipped to a record low of 1.66 million viewers as it was shown against the NBA Finals.
"We have been tremendously proud of Hannibal over its three seasons," NBC said in a statement. "Bryan and his team of writers and producers, as well as our incredible actors, have brought a visual palette of storytelling that has been second to none in all of television - broadcast or cable. We thank [producers] Gaumont and everyone involved in the show for their tireless efforts that have made Hannibal an incredible experience for audiences around the world."
