‘Hannibal’ season 3 will be the last as NBC cancels show

NBC has made it official, opting not to pick up a fourth season of its well received drama Hannibal. Despite good reviews and devoted cult following, Hannibal could not grow into a broad network show as the ratings continue to plummet.

Hannibal, based on Thomas Harris’ characters, stars Hugh Dancy as Will Graham and Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

“We have been tremendously proud of Hannibal over its three seasons,” NBC said in a statement. “Bryan and his team of writers and producers, as well as our incredible actors, have brought a visual palette of storytelling that has been second to none in all of television — broadcast or cable. We thank Gaumont and everyone involved in the show for their tireless efforts that have made ‘Hannibal’ an incredible experience for audiences around the world.”

Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller, who had no deal to run the show beyond Season 3, just landed his next series, American Gods at Starz, an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s contemporary fantasy novel.

“NBC has allowed us to craft a television series that no other broadcast network would have dared, and kept us on the air for three seasons despite Cancellation Bear Chow ratings and images that would have shredded the eyeballs of lesser Standards & Practices enforcers,” Fuller said. “(Entertainment president) Jen Salke and her team have been fantastic partners and creatively supportive beyond measure. HANNIBAL is finishing his last course at NBC’s table this summer, but a hungry cannibal can always dine again. And personally, I look forward to my next meal with NBC.”

The finale of Hannibal will be on September 3, 2015.