‘Hannibal’ showrunner admirably still teasing plans for a fourth season

No matter how much time passes, fans are still clamoring for a fourth season of Hannibal, and Bryan Fuller — the series’ creator and showrunner — has their backs through and through.

In a recent interview for Nerdist, Fuller once again expressed his desire to continue with the show after NBC’s cancellation back in 2015. Three seasons were in no way what the showrunner had in mind for Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham’s story, and having to wrap it up early has clearly left the cast and crew disappointed. Nevertheless, Fuller knows exactly where he wants to take the show should Hannibal be picked up for another season, and readily gave fans a glimpse of what that would entail when the topic arose:

“There’s something about, you know, where we left Will and Hannibal at the cliff and this power, tenderness, and intimacy that they are experiencing in that moment that feels like it’s a launch pad. I don’t think we can pull back but we have to continue the trajectory and continue that level of intimate exploration between these two men and their queer love story, their queer blurring of identities. And how that would manifest in a narrative that we can track.”

Of course, Fuller has said before that Will and Hannibal’s relationship wasn’t always intended to develop the way it did, but as the show progressed, the showrunner rolled with it, giving greater depth to these two characters’ connection. Making sure they stay true to their essence is just as important, though, and Fuller considers there is a way to do that while exploring the more intimate aspects of their dynamic:

“If you didn’t like season three you probably won’t like season four but if you like the trajectory you’re going to love where it’s going spending time with it. Thinking about it, it does become more intimate and I do see pathways of expressing that intimacy in ways that I think that the Fannibal family will feel validated by and also doesn’t feel like it’s a cheat with the characters.”

These claims are everything any Hannigram shipper has ever wanted to hear, and fans’ hope for a fourth season is renewed. Just last year, a petition for a new season made the rounds online, with Bryan Fuller himself showing support for it by urging fans to sign.

Unfortunately, not everyone is so positive. Hugh Dancy, who plays Will, doesn’t seem to be holding out hope for new episodes, despite how much the cast and crew would love for it to happen. For Fannibals, though, hope is the last thing to die, and it’s clear they’re going nowhere for the time being.