Bryan Fuller on Hannibal: “We are making a pretentious art film from the ‘80s” Was the Only Instruction He Gave to Every Director Who Joined the Series

When one is looking for a perfect show, one need not look further than NBC’s Hannibal. Although some assumed that the series would get overshadowed by the success and reputation of The Silence of the Lambs, it managed to prove its worth in the most unique ways possible.

There is no denying that the show is not for everyone, with its graphic and violent displays of crimes, and the romanticizing of murder and cannibalism. However, showrunner, Bryan Fuller, managed to deliver the story in a way that is unmatched. Be it the nature of Will Graham and Lecter’s relationship, or the complex psyche of every single character in the show, there is no denying that it is a masterpiece in every definition of the word.

During an interview, Fuller talked about how he was able to tell this magnificent story through a lens, specifically focusing on translating his vision through the hands of different directors.

Hannibal and Its Direction Style

Although storytelling, attention to detail, and character writing are what Hannibal is best known for, one of the most beloved and breathtaking parts of the series is its direction. Creating art out of murder and making it look beautiful instead of repulsive is not an easy feat. Despite this, the show manages to do it effortlessly, making it difficult to look away from the gore.

Considering the fact that the show has had multiple different directors for each episode, many have been curious about how it was able to keep such a consistent quality throughout the seasons. During an interview with The Guardian, the creator of the series, Bryan Fuller, talked about how he was able to make this happen.

He confessed that whenever he would approach a director to be a part of the project, he would tell them the tone that he was trying to set for the series. With the vocabulary used in the show, many would expect intricate and complex words to be used to describe this feeling. However, he was more direct with his wording.

Every director who comes to the show gets the same lecture. We are not making television. We are making a pretentious art film from the 80s.

Fuller explained that he wanted Mads Mikkelsen’s series to feel more like an art piece than a television series. His emphasis on the word ‘pretentious’ was quite interesting, considering how every aspect of the series feels authentic in the most raw ways possible.

The Expert Use of Perspectives and Camera Work in Hannibal

One of the most notable elements of the series is the fact that in the first season, fans rarely see the darker sides of Hannibal Lecter. Although there are some hints and anyone who has heard of The Silence of the Lambs would be aware of the truth, it isn’t until very deep into the first season that suspicions are confirmed about his lifestyle and diet.

One of the biggest reasons for this, as fans have theorized, is that the darker sides of Lecter are not shown in the first season as everything is through Will Graham’s perspective. Since Will does not know the truth, neither does the audience. While all surrounding this approach has been pure speculation, it would seem that audiences weren’t far off.

During the interview, Fuller further elaborated that he believes the camera to have a very important role in the show. Rather than showing what is happening from an objective perspective, audiences get to see things unfold through the eyes of specific characters. The best example of this would be the scene where Jack Crawford and Lecter meet for the first time.

I think the role of the camera in Hannibal is to provide point-of-view for the characters. And that’s why we’ll often choose non-traditional coverage.

Worried that Jack was there to bust his cannibalistic lifestyle, there is a special emphasis shown on the scalpal in his hand, even though he was talking about using it to sharpen his pencils. It was only until Crawford explained that he was there for the psychiatrist’s help that Lecter put the blade down. The attention to detail and the intention behind every single shot are evidently seen through the seasons.

Being able to dissect every interaction for the underlying themes has become a hobby for the fandom, and knowing that so much thought was put into its making only adds to their love for the series.

Hannibal is available for streaming on Prime Video.