Sky Living acquires Hannibal

UK pay TV channel Sky Living has bought NBC’s upcoming psychological thriller Hannibal from Gaumont International Television.

The 13x60mins series will launch exclusively on the channel soon after its US debut on NBC on April 4. It will also air on AXN channels globally.

The show is loosely based on characters from Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon, with Mads Mikkelson playing the infamous titular psychiatrist-turned-serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Hugh Dancy and Laurence Fishburne also star, with Gillian Anderson and Eddie Izzard in supporting roles.

BSkyB’s acquisitions manager Louisa Forsyth brokered the deal with Gaumont’s head of international distribution and coproduction Erik Pack.

“This series is perfect for Sky Living because it will appeal not only our core female audience, but to a shared one too. Plus, it will complement our new original commissions which are starting to come through,” said Sky Living’s director Antonia Hurford-Jones.