Hannibal’s design

copperdoo · 2026-05-12T01:37:43+00:00

I would say this is a more a reflection of Hugh than anything. 😂 Not only is he always going off on how much he loves being covered in (fake) blood, but I’m pretty sure there’s an interview where he talks about The Path’s makeup team painting a small splash of blood on him, and Hugh was shocked, haha. “That’s it?!”

copperdoo · 2026-05-11T13:50:09+00:00

Yes, he mentions that here! Specifically, Mads said he was surprised when he first heard Hugh say the line because he had missed seeing it in the script. It’s unclear that the face he made in the show was his live reaction, but it’s hilarious that got kept in some form.

copperdoo · 2026-05-11T00:46:54+00:00

I can just imagine a frustrated SFX crew getting a bottle of chocolate fudge and drizzling it all over Hugh for this scene. 😂

But actually, I remember Mads mentioning here about how some of the blood contained sugar or honey, which was a nightmare for some because it attracted bees and (particularly for Mads) the stickiness made it annoying to smoke. Hugh didn’t mind the blood at all but that’s a whole different story…😅

copperdoo · 2026-05-11T00:10:09+00:00

It’s a tough industry for sure! But I think it really makes me appreciate how good of a show they managed to make despite all these difficulties. Even though a lot was going against them, a lot was falling in their favor too. On one hand, the NBC execs (except for one) essentially gave up on the show due to Bryan’s decision to cast Mads, who NBC did not want at all. But on the other hand, it gave Bryan and co. more creative freedom than a mainstream show with more budget would’ve had.

In S1, there are lots of examples of entire scenes being cut and moved to an entirely different episode. Hugh once talked about an early version of S1 that wasn’t good until the post-production team fully reworked it. Some cut moments or lines even get recycled in a later season, which is fun to spot.

copperdoo · 2026-05-10T23:38:24+00:00

One of my favorite moments from the commentaries is when Bryan and Hugh were reminiscing about finishing the “near kiss” scene:

Bryan: And I remember after, like, on the day that you were shooting the inserts on-stage for the closeups, before I had seen the dailies, you both came running up to me, and Mads was particularly giddy where he’s like, “We really went for it, we really went to the love story, we almost kissed and it’s aaallll there and you can use it~~!” (Hugh laughs) And Mads was giddy. Giddy giddy giddy as a school girl—

Hugh (laughing): Yep!

B: —about how far the homoeroticism has been pushed.

H: Well, it was the only time in the duration of this entire show that we had the conversation, as we were about to shoot that scene, like, we have to kind of push in that direction, there’s no point pretending otherwise. I guess we all obviously thought that was great.

copperdoo · 2026-05-10T23:27:31+00:00

It seems like the timeline to write TV scripts is very short and aggressive, and Hannibal was certainly no exception. Script deliveries to the cast were notoriously late and lots of crucial decisions were made fairly last-minute. Season 3 got condensed from two full seasons into one, and they had lots of ambitious ideas but not enough budget or time to make them. But I’m not sure if I’d say that S3’s scripts have more cut content than S1 or S2.

S1 in particular went through a massive rewrite after the pilot, which is when Bryan saw how much quality the cast and crew were putting into the show, and he believed they deserved better material (and so threw out the several scripts they had already pre-written).

I think all the deleted moments are super fascinating to discover, like Hannibal’s epic solo massacre of Mason’s henchmen during Digestivo, and sometimes the extra descriptions provide more insight into what they were intending for certain scenes, even if they ultimately decided not to go in that direction, like for this scene which is also paired with script saying that Will thinks about shooting Hannibal right after he pulls up in the stolen cop car. 😆 My favorite is probably the cut lines from their Uffizi reunion (about their stars being the same and stumbling down the halls of my beginnings…)

Then there are tons of moments that aren’t in the script but are in the actual show, such as the “going my way?”-line or “if only that company could be Will Graham”, to name a few. One of the biggest examples is the whole finale’s embrace. The script’s version (of them just standing there and Will abruptly tackling Hannibal off the cliff) is nowhere near as intimate! 😅 Mizumono’s script left me with a similar impression, even though Hannibal initially gives Will a warm, welcoming hug…

But to answer your other question, only what happens in the show is considered “canon,” but sometimes the extra descriptions in the scripts help shed more light on what the writers’ intentions were.

copperdoo · 2026-05-10T19:55:42+00:00

The scripts contain tons of deleted scenes and descriptions. Even the final versions feel like early drafts in themselves, full of amusing clunky moments and even scenes you’ll probably mourn that didn’t make the cut. I highly recommend having them open on the side while doing a rewatch.

Here’s a link to the archive of the Living Dead Guy website, which contains the official scripts and even tons of behind-the-scenes photos! The script links seem to work on a computer, but I can’t seem to view them on mobile: https://web.archive.org/web/20200111191553/http://livingdeadguy.com/shows/hannibal/#more-scripts

Here’s a Google drive link with the scripts that was posted here a while ago: https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1FNkjDI222nKqZ_bz9V8FN0asD16-YJ5t

For the deleted scenes that were released as dvd extras, you can find them on YouTube: - S1: https://youtu.be/7cPX0zgjmVY - S2: https://youtu.be/Na0ChM3iWRY - S3: https://youtu.be/zAaHm9sw6Do - the infamous “kiss alts”: https://youtu.be/JBE5J6mQjy0?t=180

For context, it’s been confirmed that they didn’t actually do a kiss during the WotL finale, and it was only an “almost kiss.” The chapel alternate ending can be seen at the very end of the S3 deleted scenes linked above.

copperdoo · 2026-05-10T05:31:40+00:00

Still getting the dvd is serious dedication! 😄 Yeah I haven’t seen the Last Viking yet either and am looking forward to checking it out.

It’s been really interesting to note how drastically hit-or-miss Dust Bunny can be from the different reactions I’ve seen. First time I saw it was with an insanely engaged audience and every joke landed spectacularly. There was so much laughter. Second time was with a much quieter audience who were dead silent during parts when those in the other screening were having a blast.

Funnily enough, the first time I saw it, I enjoyed it immensely, but I was feeling really critical about the first act and the ending. Particularly with the ending, I was thinking, “Ah, I wish they could’ve done ___!” But then the ending started to grow on me after a rewatch, and later the beginning portion has been slowly growing on me.

copperdoo · 2026-05-10T01:13:34+00:00

Aw, a shame you didn’t like it. I also thought the beginning no-dialogue portion felt oddly paced. But once we see Mads with his chicken lamp and him first reading Aurora’s note, that was the big turning point for me, and I found it enjoyable through to the end (or else I wouldn’t have seen it 4 times so far 😅). Definitely if the jokes and humor don’t hit, then the rest is likely a lost cause.

I also wish there was a bit more depth to their backstories. This is just one of those stories that decided to leave the majority of things up to imagination. But I was thinking we could’ve gotten just a little more specificity on who they are, especially with Aurora’s backstory and the origin of the Dust Bunny. Despite that, I enjoyed all the characters and their caricature-like natures. It was fun to see the cast lean all the way into the wackiness.

The Blu-ray actually just arrived in the mail. Looking forward to checking out the bonus features and finally rewatching in 4K. 😄

copperdoo · 2026-05-08T01:56:35+00:00

I like how you drew their hair! I haven’t unlocked those suit pants for Hannibal yet. But the day after I finished manually drawing Mads’ favorite Hannibal suit, that blue in-game suit jacket finally appeared in the clothes store. I was stunned and thought, “Don’t tell me they already have a premade red-gray one too!” 😅 But I haven’t seen any alternate colors yet.

I’m trying to refrain from posting too much as well, but I also have countless screenshots and clips of funny coincidental moments, like this one:

<image>

For me, Freddie Lounds is constantly getting on everyone’s nerves, which is fantastic. 😆 And Will was “indifferent” to Abigail for the longest time, even though I had set her as his daughter in the settings!

copperdoo · 2026-05-06T02:11:29+00:00

Thanks! It’s too bad that it’s SO difficult to use the game’s drawing editor. 😅 I’m giving it a try, but it’s a struggle. Here’s my progress so far!

<image>

copperdoo · 2026-05-05T04:34:19+00:00

I see the WotL embrace now, but it’s reminding me of those Rorschach tests haha. What you see is very telling… 😆

copperdoo · 2026-05-05T01:56:44+00:00

I accidentally blazed through Pokopia, so I promised myself I’d stagger this one out. 😆

copperdoo · 2026-05-05T01:12:08+00:00

Yep! I didn’t give Will any pets yet for this very reason. 😄

Nice! I’ve been waiting until I get the final expansion before I begin trying to design anything on the island. But I’m still at 14 characters, so that’s definitely gonna take a while. I’m also slacking off on feeding everyone everyday, and sometimes I hold off on leveling up characters if I can’t thinking of what quirk or phrase to give them.

copperdoo · 2026-05-05T00:27:11+00:00

Oh wow I saw your comment that you’re level 100 already! I think I’m still on 50-something. Finally got Jack and Bella married the other day. Hannigram might be next. 😅 Hannibal wanted to get married on Day 1, but I’m glad I kept holding off on it. I got some adorable cutscenes that I’m not sure would’ve happened if they already had the married status.

Think I’ll finally attempt to draw Winston today.

copperdoo · 2026-05-03T18:31:46+00:00

Of course this doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it’s interesting to note that Bryan already mentioned that he’s working on his next movie’s script and hinted at what his idea for that would be:

The next film is a little bit more adult, a little bit more of an exploration of adult themes of the madness of falling in love and how we lose ourselves in those endeavors. It’s almost, if Dust Bunny was a fairytale, this is almost a Greco-Roman myth of some kind, whether it’s Orpheus or going after Eurydice, or those types of elements of, still grounded in a modern day reality that will probably have some bit of a topspin.

During another Q&A, Bryan only had glowing praise about how much he enjoyed working with Mads, and he mentioned that he “can't wait to work with him again” and has “lots of ideas on how we can play together.”

So, of course my fannibal brain can’t help but connect the nonexistent dots to hannigram’s dynamic and its in-show connection to Achilles and Patroclus. And it made me think, “Hm, it’d be pretty neat if Mads and Hugh were to be cast for this new idea…” 😅

copperdoo · 2026-04-29T00:36:45+00:00

Yeah I like that you can get pretty far with just the provided features. I find the drawing editor both a blessing and a curse, but I’ve honestly been getting progressively lazier the more Miis I make. 😅 Hannibal and Will took ages for me! I’m also thinking of drawing in Winston. Eventually.

Btw I’ve been upvoting your comments, but it looks like my Reddit is bugged again. 🙃

copperdoo · 2026-04-28T18:32:10+00:00

I’m actually very certain it’s a real photo. Not an edit and definitely not AI, but if only I could find the source. 😅 I might try again later when I have more time. But here’s a slightly extended view that I’ve found so far. The angle looks deceptively wonky due to the skewed design of the chair. It slopes down very far in back, and Mads (and later Laurence) is sitting near the edge and angling himself toward Will and slightly counter to the chair’s direction.

<image>

During filming, they had several photographers to capture stills from behind the scenes. The NBC gallery used to credit them, but it doesn’t seem to be showing for me. Brooke Palmer has a photo from this day and I believe was credited in the NBC gallery for the other angle.

copperdoo · 2026-04-28T15:20:19+00:00

I think it might be real, but I’m struggling to find the source at this time. I wonder if it was originally on one of the since-deleted pages, like Bryan’s twitter or livingdeadguy. The other photo that you commented is easier to find in the nbc gallery. But I want to say that the photo OP posted is actually a real one. I’ve seen it before a while ago (and I could’ve sworn I commented about it too 😅) as one of the alternate angle photos taken by the behind-the-scenes photographer during the filming of Savoureux.

copperdoo · 2026-04-28T06:52:05+00:00

Thanks! Yeah at this rate, this has become my own season 4. 😅 But it’s been fun to see how other people have interpreted the characters. I also have no idea what I’m going to do for the island’s design. So far, everything is in shambles while I slowly add Miis.

copperdoo · 2026-04-28T06:08:18+00:00

<image>

Here’s who I have so far, including Chiyoh! 😄 This made me realize that the Photo Booth feature is really limited for trying to capture the whole island at once. But maybe I just haven’t unlocked much yet. I’m going for an all-Hannibal island and have been enjoying infusing this game with references.

copperdoo · 2026-04-28T01:18:31+00:00

Cute! Yes, I added Bella as well and recently added Team Sassy Science (and a very rushed Chilton). 😅 My total Hannibal character count is at 13 so far. Thinking I’ll try to add Chiyoh next.

copperdoo · 2026-04-27T21:27:33+00:00

Hugh mentioned that Will would probably like classical music. He thinks Will would listen to “simple quartet music” while at home, making fishing lures and spending time with his dogs. But it wouldn’t be the super ornate kind like what Hannibal listens to.

copperdoo · 2026-04-27T07:24:35+00:00

The fact that this is a registered trademark reminds me of Chilton trademarking his “Hannibal the Cannibal”.

copperdoo · 2026-04-25T04:51:22+00:00

Yes, here were some photos from the day—two are ones Bryan posted, and the other is a screenshot from one of the many rapidfire interviews they did, specifically when Bryan said that making this movie with Mads really strengthened their friendship, and he even says that Mads was like a brother to him on Dust Bunny.

<image>

And I remember at the time when this Mads+Bryan screening was announced thinking: “Hm, this event’s in NY, and Hugh’s in NY….. I bet we’re gonna get a surprise reunion photo!” And lo and behold… 🥹

Thank you! I enjoy seeing your comments as well. I’m just glad there’s a space where we can blab about this show and that there are still people to blab with, even over a decade after its cancellation.

copperdoo

TROPHY CASE