NBC’s ‘Hannibal’ season 3 interview: Bryan Fuller on Chilton, more at Comic-Con
We’ve just returned from a busy day at Comic-Con, and that includes getting the opportunity to speak with everyone who was in attendance for the “Hannibal” panel this afternoon. You may have had a chance to read about some of the news from that already, but allow us to help give you what could be your dessert to an already delightful meal. (We’re talking a tasty meal, and one of course not made from Hannibal’s favorite meat.)
So throughout the next few days, check back for some more notable quotes from our time in the press room; tonight, we’ve got showrunner Bryan Fuller talking about the biggest shocker of all at the panel: The reveal that Chilton is going to be a part of the show again in season 3. This was a plan established long ago, and he helped to explain what this process was:
“[Writer / executive producer Steve Lightfoot] pitched Hannibal setting up Chilton, and he’s like ‘we gotta kill Chilton,’ and I was like ‘okay, but I don’t want to kill Chilton.’ I didn’t have a problem breaking the canon of the book so much as breaking my own heart. I love the character, and I love Raul [Esparza]. [The process then] was like ‘well, he could get shot and survive,’ and then it’s like ‘okay, Chilton is going to be our Kenny. We’re going to kill him off every single season, and it’s insurmountable that he will survive, and yet he will.’
“Even in the books, it’s not clear that Chilton dies … I think that Chilton’s in it for the long haul, and I love what Anthony Heald did in the films, and I feel like Raul is bringing a different sensibility that is respecting what Anthony has done while also making the character his own in a great way. He’s too mischievous and bratty and fun. I gotta figure out how we’re going to hurt him in season 4.”
What we can tell you now is that you will see Chilton play a significant role in the mission to find Hannibal in the first part of this season, and if you’ve loved and missed the character, you will not be disappointed. (For those curious, Esparza has also been aware of this plan for some time.)
Fuller has already prepared much of the story for season 3, and you can think of it as a story of halves. The first will be largely this mission to find Lecter on the part of Will Graham, and then we’ll just have to see what else exciting unfolds from there.
Also, fans of Gillian Anderson should know that the show is negotiating to have her become a series regular. Nothing is confirmed yet, but we’re certainly hopeful. NBC hasn’t confirmed a season 4 for the show and probably won’t for some time, but you gotta love that Fuller is already envisioning it in his brain.
You will be able to check out all of our “Hannibal” updates from the event this weekend over at the link here. Also, you can sign up to receive some further news and updates via our CarterMatt Newsletter on everything we cover.
Photo: CarterMatt