Mads Mikkelsen is the new Hannibal Lecter.
The Danish actor has been cast in the role of writer Thomas Harris‘ famous and frightening cannibalistic doctor in NBC’s Hannibal, the Bryan Fuller-produced series based on Harris’ popular suspense novels.
Starring alongside Hugh Dancy, who will play a criminal profiler hunting a serial killer, Mikkelsen will be hoping to add new, unexplored dimensions to the character Sir Anthony Hopkins so vidividly brought to life in 1991′s The Silence of the Lambs.
Having made a name for himself with a number of eye-catching performances in films like Casino Royale, Clash of the Titans and King Arthur, the 46-year-old Mikkelsen is certainly on a roll. Should critics and fans warm to his version of the charming-but-gruesome Dr. Lecter, Mikkelsen may be adding more awards and accolades to his best actor win at Cannes for The Hunt.
The pilot for Hannibal will be directed by David Slade. Filming is expected to begin next month.
