Hugh Dancy Had The Best Reaction to Sexy Hannibal Fan Art
The actor behind Will Graham called Hannigram fan art "touching but sometimes quite disturbing."
Hannibal is a beloved psychological thriller created by Bryan Fuller. It aired for three seasons between 2013 and 2015. Despite being an interesting exploration of a serial killer's mind, the show is best known for the powerful performances of Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen and the compelling chemistry between their characters, which quickly made them one of the fan-favorite pairings.
The series follows Will Graham, a criminal profiler who hunts serial killers using his almost supernatural ability to recreate the thinking of criminals, and Hannibal Lecter, a respected forensic psychiatrist who doubles as a highly intelligent cannibal.
Throughout the series, Lecter, fascinated by Will's mind, manipulates him to question his sanity and become a killer. The intense back-and-forth between the two creates a complex, almost romantic dynamic as they both seek understanding and control over each other.
This twisted relationship, along with the internet's love of shipping characters, made Will and Hannibal's romance a popular escapist fantasy among fans.
However, in a recent interview Dancy told Collider that he was unaware of the extent of the fanbase for the Hannibal and Will pairing (often referred to as Hannigram) and was surprised by the dedication of the fans.
He recalled that it was unsettling to see himself and Mikkelsen depicted in sexy fan art that was shown to him by fans while promoting the show.
"[It was] both incredibly touching and sometimes quite disturbing," the actor remembered. "I'm moved, but please don't show that to me again."
Dancy noted that the images fans showed him made him realize that his own perspective on creating the character was not the only one that mattered. He understood that the show has taken on a much greater significance in the lives of fans, who were committed to the pairing, than it did for him.
Dancy also acknowledged the disappointment of fans who were hoping for a more explicit portrayal of the potential romantic relationship between Hannibal and Will but never got any, though adding that every opinion mattered. He stated that the strong chemistry between himself and Mikkelsen was not surprising, as they had previously spent lots of time together on the set of 2004's King Arthur.
Overall, Dancy expressed appreciation for the show's ability to connect with so many fans:
"I have been amazed and have actually loved that democratization of the whole thing."