Sky Living have picked up the UK rights to NBC's impending crime drama Hannibal, about a FBI profiler (Hugh Dancy) tasked with catching serial killers, aided by his therapist Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelson)—who's secretly rather partial to human flesh.I wouldn't have expected Sky Living to get their mitts on this show, given how the channel still has a female-skewing vibe. But maybe this is part of Sky's plan to make it more appealing to men, who usually find the schedule filled with Ghost Whisperer, America's Next Top Model and Grey's Anatomy repeats. If you ask me Hannibal should be on Sky1 or Sky Atlantic instead of The Following, but what do I know. Maybe the name-recognition will succeed in drawing more male eyeballs Living's way.
Antonia Hurford-Jones, the channel's director, has this to say about their acquisition: "we are delighted to be adding Hannibal to our line-up of quality US drama on Sky Living. This series is perfect for Sky Living because it will appeal not only to our core female audience, but to a shared one too. Plus, it will complement our new original commissions which are starting to come through."
Oh, right—so that's definitely their plan then. Will it work?
Hannibal will premiere on 4 April in the US, but a UK airdate hasn't been announced yet.
