Fannibals, this news cannot come as a complete shock, but still, brace yourselves: NBC has cancelled the best show it has aired in years, Hannibal. Granted, the ratings were incredibly low (even for summer), but due to the show's international studio backing (it's produced by Gaumont), NBC spends very little on airing it. Still, the peacock network is pulling the plug, although not until the end of this current season, so we will at least see series maestro Bryan Fuller's third season in full.

Fuller, who has always been very complimentary of NBC, said of the news,

NBC has allowed us to craft a television series that no other broadcast network would have dared, and kept us on the air for three seasons despite Cancellation Bear Chow ratings and images that would have shredded the eyeballs of lesser Standards & Practices enforcers. Jen Salke and her team have been fantastic partners and creatively supportive beyond measure. HANNIBAL is finishing his last course at NBC’s table this summer, but a hungry cannibal can always dine again. And personally, I look forward to my next meal with NBC.

A spokesman for NBC added,

We have been tremendously proud of ‘Hannibal’ over its three seasons,” NBC said in a statement. “Bryan and his team of writers and producers, as well as our incredible actors, have brought a visual palette of storytelling that has been second to none in all of television — broadcast or cable. We thank Gaumont and everyone involved in the show for their tireless efforts that have made ‘Hannibal’ an incredible experience for audiences around the world.

However ...

Since NBC doesn't produce Hannibal, Gaumont will likely shop it around to another distributor, since the show garners so much critical acclaim (and on another platform -- especially one where Fuller is able to completely execute his vision for the series outside of what is possible on broadcast -- the show might become something even more intensely beautiful and frightening). There have been rumors of other suitors for Hannibal for awhile now, so though NBC is passing on the series, the show is probably not over for good. Fuller has said he has a 7 season plan for the series, so let's hope someone else picks it up so we are able to see it through to its fruition. This is my design.

Hannibal stars Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen, and will finish out its third season Thursday nights on NBC. You can also see the renewed/cancelled status of over 150 scripted series via our TV Lifeline.