While the franchise's on-screen future remains unclear, an underrated Hannibal Lecteradaptation is getting a new streaming home. Based on Thomas Harris' four novels centering on the cannibalistic serial killer, the on-screen journey of the character began in 1986's Manhunter, written and directed by Michael Mann and starring Brian Cox as the iconic killer. Primarily based on the first novel, Red Dragon, the movie failed at the box office and initially garnered mixed reviews, but has gone on to be considered a cult classic. p3p6t

It's technically the third film in the franchise, so how does Hannibal Lecter's outing Red Dragon fit into the series timeline? Despite the huge success of The Silence Of The Lambs - including winning Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress - it once seemed there would be no sequels. Production on any follow-up was delayed until author Thomas Harris completed his sequel novel, Hannibal. Harris is famously not the most prolific of writers (having penned six novels total since his 1975 debut Black Sunday), which means it took nearly a decade for Hannibal to arrive.

Brett Ratner's prequel Red Dragon was filmed in several locations throughout the United States to capture the most scenic chapter in the Hannibal Lecter film series. Red Dragon depicts Edward Norton as former detective Will Graham, seeking assistance from Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins) to help capture serial killer Francis Dolarhyde (played by Ralph Fiennes). This was set against a stunning backdrop in Red Dragon, for which Ratner used an array of beautiful locations.

The ending of Hannibal Lecter prequel Red Dragon's leads directly into The Silence Of The Lambs, creating a strange plot hole in the process. Viewers had to wait a decade for Anthony Hopkins to return to his Oscar-winning role in 2001's Hannibal, but producers weren't going to wait another ten years for the next entry. They decided on a second adaptation of Hannibal's first novel Red Dragon, though when there was reluctance by Hopkins to return, other actors like Jude Law were considered as possible replacements for the young Lecter.

Academy Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins has starred in a wide variety of bone-chilling horror films before and after taking up the performance of a lifetime as Hannibal Lecter. With a record of countless nominations, it is undeniable that Hopkins is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. The Welsh star is recognized globally for his milestones in horror, a genre that shows the range of both his talent and signature style.

There's only one actor who's appeared in four Hannibal Lecter movies, and it's not Oscar-winning star Anthony Hopkins. When it comes to movie villains, few are as iconic in history as the cannibalistic serial killer whose day job is psychiatry. Hannibal of course debuted in author Thomas Harris' novel Red Dragon, and returned in follow-up books The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Hannibal Rising, a prequel showcasing Hannibal's early years. All four books have been adapted to film, twice in the case of Red Dragon. But, although Lecter himself is undoubtedly the driving force behind every on-screen adaptation, his is not the only noteworthy role in the series.

Hannibal Lecter might be one of Anthony Hopkins' most famous roles, but here's where he regrets reprising the cannibal for Hannibaland Red Dragon. Before Anthony Hopkins, Brian Cox had played Hannibal Lecter (or "Lecktor") in Michael Mann's Manhunter, which was based on Thomas Harris' Red Dragon. That 1986 thriller eventually became a cult favorite, but it quickly sank without trace upon release. The Silence Of The Lambs adapted Harris' second Lecter novel, where he aids FBI agent Clarice Starling as she seeks a serial killer named Buffalo Bill.

The unsolved killings seen in Hannibal's pilot episode were really committed by Red Dragon, AKA Francis Dolarhyde. The Hannibal movie franchise was in poor shape by the time the NBC series arrived. Anthony Hopkins had exited the role following 2002's Red Dragon, while the Hanning Rising prequel received a decidedly lukewarm response. While plenty of classic movies have been turned into TV shows, NBC's Hannibal is widely considered one of the very best.

It's no secret that the famed cannibal serial killer Hannibal Lecter went from being popular on the page to a hit on the big screen. The first version of the murderer was seen in the 1986 movie Manhunter, with Brian Cox in the role, but the movie didn't gain much traction.

Most of the Hannibal TV show's principle players had already appeared in the Lecter movies, but there were a few who were new to the screen. While Thomas Harris is a popular author, he's not in the league of someone ubiquitous like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling. Suffice to say, it seems likely that far more people are familiar with Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter, Will Graham, Clarice Starling, and their surrounding cast from the various film adaptations of Harris' work than the books themselves.