10 Things You Learn Rewatching Hannibal
5. Mads Mikkelsen Is A Superb Lecter... But He’s No Hopkins
Hannibal Lecter has been played onscreen by four different actors to date; Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, Gaspard Ulliel and of course, Mads Mikkelsen.
Mads Mikkelsen is one hell of an actor, period. He first appeared on screen in Pusher (1996) and rose to international stardom with Casino Royale (2006). His portrayal of Le Chiffre was superb and a perfect fit for the rogues' gallery of Bond villains, and perhaps where Bryan Fuller saw what Mikkelsen could bring to the role of Hannibal Lecter.
His version of Lecter is chilling; calm, sophisticated, layered, and always appearing to be in on some joke we are unaware of, with a little side smile peering out as he casually marinades someone's genitalia.
There is only one problem; Anthony Hopkins' Lecter performance exists and always will. Despite being unable to use any material from The Silence Of The Lambs, the occasional line pops up from time to time, along with little scenarios and familiar situations and that’s when Hopkins, inevitably, sneaks into your brain.
Hopkins’ Lecter is so iconic that there isn’t anyone who can eat fava beans without either a menacing slurp or at least thinking of it. Even Hannibal (2001) has its moments; the “I’m giving very serious thought… to eating your wife” line could not have been delivered by anyone else, even Mads himself. We miss you Tony…