It went bromance, ugly break-up, fugitive situation, then Red Dragon.
How, if at all, has that plan evolved over the past eighteen months?
I think the evolution would be shoring up the structure.
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And I gather youve substantially changed Hannibals origin story fromHannibal Rising?
Going back to the source then?
Was that a conscious decision to move against the trend?
Thats right, given my experience [laughing].
How does that affect your approach to the storytelling?
And going off to his new life.
BecauseHannibalis the first show Ive done thats made it into a third season…
Hooray!
That was also part of the reason to shore up the structure and get toRed Dragonin season three.
The fun for us would be integrating Will Graham into the story ofThe Silence Of The Lambs.
There are other options these days for a TV show that doesnt get renewed though, other buyers?
The rules tend to change in those dynamics though.
Can you let us in on the experience of waiting for confirmation of renewal from your side?
Its nail-biting enough for fans, but what is it like from where you are?
Youre always prepared for optimism.
I cant help but think of where the path goes beyond the wall of an end of a season.
Im always optimistic and prepared to move forward.
But its never not a bummer to have a show cancelled.
Can you tell us which new characters are being introduced to season three?
Im thrilled about that too.
Why do you think it proved so tricky for HBO to get right?
I wasnt part of any of the creative conversations when the property was at HBO.
When youre developing something you have to look at it individually.
You cant sort of compare and contrast it to the projects around it, because that way madness lies.
Weve broken the first three episodes, Michael Green and I, and were having so much fun.
Its such a different muscle toHannibal.
Neil Gaiman once called it one of his most divisive novels.
Why do you think that might be?
Im not sure [laughing].
Most of the people Ive come across adore the novel, and theyloveNeil.
Peoples heads were turning, they recognised him.
Breathing the same air as him…
Exactly, so hes got that wonderful light about him as a human being and as a storyteller.
I havent been exposed to anybody whos been like… Everybody that Ive been exposed to has been like American Gods?
Its not without its oddness is it?
A moment like when the Goddess Bilquis ingests that man through her…
She eats him with her vagina.
So what do you do with a moment like that?
I think its beautifully written in the novel.
Although you never know!
Thats music to my ears.
In every Neil Gaiman novel, theres a point which Ive come to think of as the unadaptable moment.
How do you approach sequences like that?
Laura, who is kind of lurking in the background,shes a major player in this world.
Have you honoured that in casting discussions?
Or is he all of those things in one?
So we know that he is not white!
I think if we cast a white man to play Shadow we would be the biggest assholes on television.
Can you let us in on any of your ideal types for casting?
I have such a crush on Mark Gatiss.
Id like to cast him in anything.
There areso many, its hard to pick one.
and we said, were going to do itexactlyas written.
And Starz should be fine with that.
So youre looking ahead past one single season ofAmerican Gods?
Tell us a bit aboutHigh Moon.
Youve described it a Spielbergian romp with gay Russian space spies?
[Laughing] Yes exactly.
Im very proud of it, its a lot of fun.
What can people expect from it?
A brand-new retro space romp.
The style of it is brand-new retro.
Bryan Fuller, thank you very much!
Hannibal season 2 is released on DVD and Blu-Ray on Monday the 22ndof September.
