NBC casts Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter in new drama

Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen will play Hannibal Lecter in the new NBC drama directed by Bryan Fuller (creator of Pushing Daisies).

The new show is based on the psychiastrist-turned-serial-killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter from the Thomas Harris novels (The Silence of the Lambs, etc.) What's interesting about this show is, NBC ordered it without any pilot or actors signed on, just the director. Will it work? No one knows!

From THR:

NBC has found its Hannibal Lecter in Mads Mikkelsen.

The Copenhagen-born actor has been tapped to play the title role in the network's Bryan Fuller drama series, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Mikkelsen, who took home the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival last month for Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt, will play the psychiatrist-turned-serial killer in the 13-episode series from the creator of Pushing Daisies.

In addition to The Hunt, Mikkelsen's credits include playing the villain in the James Bond feature Casino Royale and The Three Musketeers. His upcoming credits include Thor 2.