20 Mind-Blowing Facts You Didn't Know About Hannibal
10. Lee Pace Was First Choice For Will Graham
Bryan Fuller tends to keep his friends close. And he's so friendly and down-to-Earth, he likely doesn't have any enemies to keep closer. The showrunner has a track record of hiring the same actors, in a similar vein to cult (and constantly-cancelled) TV show creator Joss Whedon and his revolving door of acting talent.
He brought Wonderfalls starCaroline Dhavernas along as FBI consultant Dr Alana Bloom, and Pushing Daisies alumni Gina Torres, Ellen Greene and Raul Esparza all turn up in Hannibal. He also wanted that latter show's lead character, Lee Pace, to star as Will Graham in Hannibal – unfortunately, his Broadway commitments mean the was busy.
Pace would've certainly made a fine, if different, Will Graham. Apparently Fuller was eager to get fellow Pushing Daisies alumni Kristin Chenoweth and maybe even Anna Friel, saying the former “clearly has to play someone in the Boston arts scene. Perhaps an opera singer.” Neither of which are likely to happen with the show cancelled.