NBC announced its summer schedule today, which included the first word on when Hannibal Season 3 would premiere. We now have our date for when the next dance of death between Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) will begin: Thursday, June 4th at 10 p.m.

This small piece of information is interesting on several fronts. For one, the series was moved back from a midseason premiere to summer, which we already knew, but it also got a promotion: Thursday nights. NBC seems to be trying the series' luck against a quieter summer schedule in a more prominent spot, so we'll have to see how (or if) that ultimately affects the ratings or overall viewership.

Along with the long-awaited announcement of the premiere date, show creator Bryan Fuller tweeted a picture of the new season's first poster:

It shows Bedelia (Gillian Anderson) standing alone on a Florence street (I assume?) But does Fuller's comment "tuck in" mean she will be Hannibal's next victim?

The third season will start with a flash-forward, and will spend part of its time in Italy. Earlier this week it was announced that Zachary Quinto would be joining the show for at least one episode as a patient of Bedelia's, so it looks like we might get some time with her and her practice there. Not having read the books, I don't know what's coming next, but I cannot wait for this gorgeously disturbing series to return.