Despite poor ratings, the peacock network has decided to renew Hannibal for a second season. There will be 13 episodes once again and they won’t start airing until mid-season at the earliest.
The first season of Hannibal is still airing and is currently averaging a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 3.13 million total viewers. Last week’s installment drew just a 1.0 in the demo and 2.69 million. The season is expected to wrap on June 20th.
Here’s the NBC press release:
NBC RENEWS “HANNIBAL” FOR SECOND SEASON
Bryan Fuller Drama That Details the Life of Dr. Hannibal Lecter Will Return for 13 Episodes
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – May 30, 2013 – NBC has given a 13-episode second-season renewal to its critically applauded drama “Hannibal.” The new season will air no earlier than midseason.
“Hannibal” is based on the characters from the novel “Red Dragon” by Thomas Harris and was developed for television by Bryan Fuller, who also serves as writer and executive producer.
The announcement was made by NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke.
“We’re so proud of Bryan’s vision for a show that is richly textured, psychologically complex, and very compelling,” Salke said. “There are many great stories still to be told.”
Critics have strongly embraced the series. Alan Sepinwall of Hitfix.com said “Hannibal” “is the last of this season’s serial killer shows. It’s also, by a very wide margin, the best.” Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly called “Hannibal” “finely acted, visually scrumptious and deliciously subversive” while Matt Roush of TV Guide said the show is “feverishly twisted, fascinatingly macabre and visually remarkable.”
The series stars Hugh Dancy as expert criminal profiler Will Dancy, who has a unique ability to peer into the mind of serial killers. Mads Mikkelsen stars as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist who is helping with the cases and, unbeknownst to Will, is also a serial killer himself.
Laurence Fishburne stars as Jack Crawford, the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. Caroline Dhavernas and Hettienne Park also co-star.
Through its eight original telecasts to date, “Hannibal” is averaging a 2.0 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall in “most current” results from Nielsen Media Research. “Hannibal” is the youngest drama on ABC, CBS and NBC, with a median age for its audience of 45.7. It’s also an upscale drama, indexing at a 111 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with 100 indicating an average concentration of those homes).
Additionally, “Hannibal” is heavily time-shifted, with its 18-49 rating growing by 75% going from next-day “live plus same day” ratings to “live plus seven day” results.
In addition to Fuller, Martha De Laurentiis, Jesse Alexander, Chris Brancato, Sara Colleton, Katie O’Connell, Elisa Roth, Sidonie Dumas and Christophe Riandee also serve as executive producers.
The series is produced by Gaumont International Television, Dino De Laurentiis Company and Living Dead Guy Productions, and co-commissioned internationally by Sony Pictures Television Networks.
What do you think? Are you glad that NBC has renewed Hannibal? Considering the ratings, does the renewal make sense? How about the episode order?
I love this shows smart dialogue and sophisticated presentations of gruesome murders. Hannibal is a puppet master and although he has a fondness for a few of his puppets he loves none. He is ecstatic to play the voyeur, just pluck a string and watch what happens.
Excellent. Can’t miss an episode. Please renew.
LOVE THIS SHOW.I’m very excited to see it be continued. I feel it is on a level with another favorite show of mine, Scandal. Thank You.
I’m very glad that Hannibal is coming back. It’s an awesome intriguing show that constantly keeps you guessing to the next episode.
Yes I am so happy they renewed Hannibal. It is an absolutely amazing show! The acting is superb! The storyline is excellent! I just love the chemistry between Will and the Doctor. And I love watching the scenes of Hannibal cooking and serving his scruptious little delicacies in the kitchen! I love love love this show. Anybody who isn’t watching is missing out!
GREAT show! I am thrilled it’s been renewed. Too bad Graham was framed. He didn’t deserve to be the victim and framed for all the murders Hannibal did. I hope season 2 corrects this! Graham should be the hero, NOT the victim and in prison fo crimes he did not commit.
One of best and original shows on primetime TV, took it to the very edge with.the crimes and visual scenes were definitely not for a family TV night. But mine is a little older 15+ and NEVER MISSED AN EPISODE. Even if we had to watch it the next night on demand. We absolutely loved it, have always had a fascination with the movies and have watched Sr Anthony play Hannibal, you new nothing about the practice he had in his home. There have been hints of it, but no explanation. I love the whole concept of starting is life… Read more »
I love this show. It is horrifically beautiful. Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen are both so amazing. It is great to see them together. The fit for their characters is perfect.
I think this show is absolutely amazing!!! Beautiful visuals, acting, and script. As you watch it all builds and builds until you can hardly stand it…then the episode ends, you go to sleep with all the lights on, and feel horribly sick about how eagerly you look forward to the next episode, and when the next one airs you KNOW you will definitely drink an additional drink…. Yep, it’s that gooood.
Smartest thing you ever did NBC. So very glad you renewed it!
I definitely agree, I love watching this show.
Enjoyed this first season as sick as that sounds. It was intelligent, well acted, and captivating. I look forward to season 2. Excellent call ..NBC!
Just watched season 1 finale (in United Kingdom) and like all other episodes need time to digest (!) the twists and details. Fantastically acted, beautifully filmed / produced it is by far the best drama shown here this year. Each episode so detailed and complex that I couldn;t do straight into the next episode without at least 24 hours ‘thinking time’. Looking forward to 2014 for the next season to be shown here. Thank you to all concerned,
What date well season 2 begin, and well it be on NBC.
Great show, lots of mystery and suspense .I am so happy you renewed this show.
it holds my interest and can’t wait to see the next episode .
Thanks, Beverly Meek
This show is amazing!!! The show is produced by the same producers who did the movies and the actors are phenomenal!!! There is no greater villain or curiosity than “Hannibal Lector” of the Television/Movie generation!!! I couldn’t imagine them not renewing this show. Who cares about the same C.S.I. team scrapping finger nails with montages of half naked woman or saving someone with a random social security number generator playing the six degrees of Kevin Bacon! HAHAHA This show has intellect and is awesome! Props to NBC for renewing it!!!
This is good news! I just discovered this show in early May, and I’m hooked! In fact, I ordered the entire season from iTunes…I never do that!
This is a very interesting, well-acted show. I find lately, there are not a lot of shows that make me look forward to the next episode. This one is special.