Whether we get more Hannibal or not, the brilliant show’s third season was an incredibly thrilling one, bringing the story of Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and Will Graham (High Dancy) to an immensely satisfying conclusion – no matter if it’s the end of this particular chapter of the story or The End.

With Hannibal: Season 3 coming out on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday, December 8th, I spoke to Mads Mikkelsen about the season, telling two distinct stories in the first and second halves, the relationship between Hannibal and Will, that final scene and more.Suffice to say, major spoilers follow for Hannibal: Season 3.

Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal.

Loading

I think we all looked forward to moving somewhere else. As far as I've hear, on many shows, in the third season, they always try and shake it up. They also have to try and keep the atmosphere of the original show. So this is what we did. It was according to the books, of course. We went to Europe and it was just amazing to be there and spending so much time shooting with Bedelia, with Gillian Anderson, and then having some very intense moments with her. So yes, it was a gearshift in many ways for the show, and then it comes back to something that we recognize later on.It's a combination of all that. We discussed that, me and Bryan [Fuller]. We discussed it to a certain degree, but it's always a combination of many things. Hannibal is not necessarily rational in what he does, always, and as an audience member you can turn and say, "Oh, that's just a role he wants to play. He wants to play cat and mouse. He wants to push her somewhere special.” But I think, in general, he never would have done that if he didn't have respect for her. All these people that come close to him, to a degree, he has a certain amount of respect for. Obviously, they're not on his level, if you ask him, but they're all interesting. And in the case of Bedelia, they had history together. They had a past. There's something that binds them together, which we also shed some light on during these episodes.Well, there's nothing like going to the real place. We experienced three seasons in Toronto and they are wonderful in Toronto and have been very, very generous to us and our show, but it's also very cold! [Laughs] So eventually, to go to Florence in the midst of December and have it be, what was it, 18 degrees celcous or something, it was just absolutely stunning to be there. And to spend time in the real Duomo and the real churches and the chapels and streets, that was something special, absolutely.No, it was nice. Again, a little like going to Florence, it was something that we looked forward to happening, but for different reasons. Hannibal had never been able to play his cards fully in the faces of people, which he has iconically done in the films. We remember him as a guy who has nothing to lose. He plays all his cards and he's cheeky and he's funny and a little that and a little this. He does whatever he wants. Obviously, we couldn't do that because he's been hiding under the radar for two seasons and he's done horrendous things, but we've only seen the moments... His private moments. So all of the sudden now, he can look right in the face of Alana, right in the face of Jack. He will be lewder in his language. He will be childish sometimes. Sometimes he'll be even more philosophical. And we looked forward to having those moments.

Continue to Page 2 as Mikkelsen discusses Hannibal’s love for Will, avoiding a redemption storyline, filming the final scene and more.