So, after suffering from “dragon sickness” in “The Hobbit”, Richard Armitage is now going to leave his bite marks on his victims’ bodies in NBC’s “Hannibal“.
The series reached its climax in the last episode of Season 2, leaving us yearning of the mind-bending thriller series. Although the premiere date has not been announced, the series will return to bend viewers’ minds in the upcoming season 3, in which the story will be adapted from Thomas Harris’ novel “Red Dragon”
Thus, several other characters from the novel will be making their first TV appearances through the series, including main antagonist Francis Dolarhyde.
Ralph Fiennes as Francis Dolarhyde – Tattoo / Image
Voted by Cinevistaramascope as the #18th Scariest Characters in Cinema, TV Line is reporting that Francis Dolarhyde will appear in the 3rd season of “Hannibal” and he will be portrayed by Richard Armitage.
Dolarhyde was previously portrayed by Tom Noonan in 1986’s “Manhunter” and by Ralph Fiennes in 2002’s “Red Dragon”. The fictional serial killer tends to kill entire families and leave bite marks on his victims’ bodies. Thus, he was nicknamed “The Tooth Fairy” but he later referred his alter ego as “The Great Red Dragon” after William Blake’s painting “The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun”. He even had the dragon in the painting tattooed across his back and 2 sets of false teeth made; one of which is for his killings, based on the mould of his abusive grandmother’s teeth.
Richard Armitage as Thorin in “The Hobbit”
Best known for his role as Thorin Oakenshield in “The Hobbit” trilogy, Richard Armitage is set to portray the villainous character in the last 6 episodes of Season 3.
His villainous role in “Hannibal” will mark his return to the TV universe as he was last seen on TV in 2011’s “Strike Back: Project Dawn”. In the TV universe, the English actor is known for his roles as John Thornton on the British television programme “North & South”, Guy of Gisborne in the TV drama “Robin Hood”, and Lucas North in the TV drama “Spooks.
On the movie side, he had a starring role in Steven Quale’s “Into the Storm” as well as the retelling of “The Crucible” last year. He was also known for villainous role in Marvel’s “Captain America: The First Avenger.”
The upcoming season of “Hannibal” is a highly-anticipated season as various other actors including Joe Anderson and Tao Okamoto have also joined cast. The series will continue to track the evolving relationship between FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (played by Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Produced by Dino De Laurentiis Company, the series also stars Caroline Dhavernas, Laurence Fishburne, and Gillian Anderson.
What do you think of the casting news so far? Who else would you want to see in the series? Share your dream casting in the comments box below 
(Source: 1, 2 / Featured image)