20 Mind-Blowing Facts You Didn't Know About Hannibal
15. Richard Armitage Signed On Without Watching A Single Episode
One of the best surprises of Hannibal's third season was the appearance of Richard Armitage as the Tooth Fairy, the serial killer from original Lecter novel Red Dragon (along with the accompanying film adaptations, the first of which – Michael Mann's Manhunter – is often forgotten about, despite being absolutely brilliant).
Otherwise known as Francis Dolarhyde, the Tooth Fairy is one of the main antagonists of season three, and Armitage is brilliantly cast in the role, building on previous TV roles in Spooks and Robin Hood and on film in The Hobbit trilogy. He went into Hannibal, meanwhile, having not watched a single episode or even read a script sent to his agent.
“I wasn’t familiar with the show, and even before I’d read the script I was already saying yes because it was Bryan Fuller,” Armitage has said in interviews. “I just wanted to work with him.” Regardless of his lack of familiarity, the actor slotted in nicely and he was right to trust Fuller because the third season has been great.