Discussions to bring back Hannibal for a fourth season have officially begun, according to series creator Bryan Fuller.

"Conversations couldn't start until 2 years after the final airing of season 3," Fuller wrote on Twitter. "[Producer Martha De Laurentiis] has started those conversations. This takes time."

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Fuller previously revealed conversations to bring back the canceled NBC series couldn't take place until two years after the final episode, which aired on August 29, 2015. "That’s when we would have to see what the rights are for the character and for the story, and see who’s interested and how we get it done," Fuller said in June 2016.

While Fuller's tweet isn't confirmation of Hannibal's return, it does appear to be the first measurable step toward bringing back the short-lived series.

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Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy, who starred as Hannibal Lector and Will Graham, respectively, have both expressed their interest in returning for a fourth season.

"The cast is game, I’m game," Fuller previously stated. "It’s just a matter of finding the right time where everybody’s schedules sync up, but I would love to continue to tell the story with Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen. They’re such a fantastic collaborators, and one of the most satisfying actor-showrunner relationships I’ve ever had in this industry. So I would love to continue this story."

For the latest on Hannibal's potential return, stay tuned to IGN. In the meantime, check out IGN's review of Hannibal: Season 3, as well as IGN's top ten Hannibal episodes.

Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter at @jdsirani.