“Hannibal” Reveals Mouthwatering Season 3 Details

What’s on the menu for Season 3 of NBC’s psychological thriller “Hannibal?”

The cast and crew indulged fans with spoilers during a packed panel at Comic-Con Thursday.

Although stars Mads Mikkelson (serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter) and Hugh Dancy (criminal profiler Will Graham) weren’t in attendance, faithful fans were just as excited to hear from the show’s visionary Bryan Fuller.

The panel also included executive producers Steven Lightfoot and Martha DeLaurentiis, director David Slade and actors Caroline Dhavernas, Scott Thompson and Aaron Abrams.

“Fannibals” got a surprise treat when Raul Esparza, who plays Dr. Frederick Chilton, made an unexpected appearance.

“I was surprised as anyone to see I was shot in the face,” Esparza said, referring to his character’s Season 2 shocker.

In the first spoiler of the night, the actor revealed he will be back next season.

“I’m Dr. Chilton. And I survive. I read the (expletive) books,” Esparza said.

The TV series with a cult following is based on Thomas Harris’ suspense novels about Hannibal Lecter. (The producers think of themselves as “Thomas Harris mashup DJs.”) Many male characters in the books are women on the show.

“I don’t think genitals when I’m writing a character,” Fuller explained.

One by one, fans dressed in flower crowns and antlers approached the mic to ask questions, ranging from the creative process to how each panelist would like to be eaten.

Fuller said several characters from the books will be introduced in Season 3, including Lady Murasaki. The panel confirmed Internet rumors that the new season will pick up one year after Season 2 ended. (What happened in the interim will all be explained in Episode 4, Fuller said.)

The last time audiences saw Hannibal, he was on a plane to Europe. When one fan asked what the cuisine will be next season, the panel responded, “Italian.” Does that mean Hannibal’s culinary adventures could be taking him to Italy?

Only time will tell. But the delicious details revealed Thursday are enough to whet fans’ appetites until the series returns in 2015.

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