Bryan Fuller Wants ‘Hannibal’ to Return — but Rights Issues Stand in the Way

Fans have been begging for years to see Hannibal return, and according to series creator Bryan Fuller, the desire isn’t one-sided. The cast, the creative team, and Fuller himself are all eager to bring the critically acclaimed psychological horror series back. Unfortunately, one major roadblock continues to delay its revival: complicated rights issues.

During a recent appearance on The Horror Queers podcast, Fuller opened up about the future of the cult NBC series while promoting his new film Dust Bunny, which once again reunites him with Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen. While he remains hopeful, he admits the revival is much harder to navigate than fans may realize.

Everyone Wants to Return — But the Rights Are a Mess

Fuller revealed that nearly the entire original cast is on board for another season, including Hugh Dancy, Mikkelsen, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas, Aaron Abrams, Scott Thompson, and more. The enthusiasm is there — the legal clarity is not.

Following the passing of Martha De Laurentiis, the rights to the Hannibal universe are currently in flux. Fuller explained:

“The rights are in the process of reversion to Thomas Harris. MGM/Amazon has some. They’re all being navigated, and it’s a little trickier to iron out now.”

In short, multiple studios and stakeholders hold different pieces of the Hannibal IP puzzle. That makes launching a new season — or any continuation — significantly more complicated.

Season 4 or a Modern ‘Silence of the Lambs’? Fuller Has Both Ideas Ready

Despite the legal tangle, Fuller knows exactly what he wants to do next. Season 4 remains a real possibility, but he also revealed that he would love to create a modern TV adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs — and surprisingly, that might be easier from a rights perspective.

According to Fuller:

“A Silence of the Lambs adaptation may actually be easier because certain obligations to Gaumont might not apply. You can’t copyright a performance.”

This means he could potentially tell a new version of the iconic Clarice/Hannibal story without violating existing contracts tied specifically to the original Hannibal series.

Fuller Already Has Season 4 Mapped Out

While discussing the show’s evolution, Fuller explained that Hannibal truly found its voice in Season 3 — and that Season 4 would carry that storytelling style even further.

He reflected on the series’ progression:

• Season 1: Too procedural for his taste

• Season 2: A major improvement

• Season 3: “This is what the show should be”

Fuller warned that fans who disliked Season 3 probably wouldn’t enjoy Season 4 either:

“Season 4 follows the arc and tone of Season 3. If you’re not into that, you won’t be into what’s planned next.”

The Future of ‘Hannibal’ Isn’t Dead — It’s Just Stuck in Rights Limbo

The passion from fans and cast remains strong, and Fuller continues to gently push the right people to make a revival possible. But until the rights fully settle, the series remains trapped in a frustrating holding pattern.

Still, Fuller’s detailed plans — and his willingness to explore alternate routes like The Silence of the Lambs — show that the world of Hannibal Lecter is far from finished. It’s simply waiting for the legal stars to align.