'Hannibal' season 4 news: showrunner says revival talks could happen in 2017

Mads Mikkelsen as seen in HannibalNBC

Despite low viewership ratings, "Hannibal" and its three seasons were all critically praised and it came as a shock to many when the show was suddenly cancelled. Fans have been clamoring for a revival to continue with a fourth season, and speaking to Collider, showrunner Bryan Fuller teases that talks may take place in late 2017.

"Two years after the last airing of the show, we can investigate our options," Fuller explained. "August 2017 is when we can actually start talking about it. 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 also confirmed that as it stands, he is set to continue the series and the main cast are all ready to jump right back as well. However, the main issue would be their schedules. Hugh Dancy is currently filming a new series and Mads Mikkelsen is now involved with the "Star Wars" franchise as he stars in this year's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

Bryan Fuller himself is currently busy working on the new "American Gods" series, a television adaptation of the novel written by Neil Gaiman. He is also working on the new "Star Trek" anthology series which will air on CBS.

If everyone would be willing to work out their schedule and if the discussions next year between the rights of the show and distribution concerns with Amazon, Netflix and NBC could be settled then a fourth season may push forward.

Should the show manage to be renewed for a fourth season then it is possible that the show will reveal how the main characters survived the season 3 cliffhanger while potentially introducing the character of Clarice Starling, who was previously portrayed by Jodie Foster in the 1991 adaptation of "Silence of the Lambs."