Why Amazon Needs ‘Hannibal’

When it was announced on Tuesday that NBC was canceling Hannibal after three seasons, my immediate thought was, “Oh, I hope Amazon picks it up!”

I thought this because I’m a huge Hannibal fan, so I’d like the show to live on, but I also thought this situation reminded me of what recently happened when Fox canceled The Mindy Project after three seasons. Hulu, The Mindy Project’s streaming home, immediately went after the rights for two subsequent seasons. Since Amazon is already Hannibal’s home on streaming, I just figured it would be a natural fit for Amazon to step up and take over the show’s production.

It looks like Amazon is thinking the same thing. Variety is reporting that Hannibal’s executive producer, Bryan Fuller, is hinting that both Netflix and Amazon are interested in picking up the show. So, does that mean that Netflix could swoop in and save Hannibal? Not really. Fuller explained, “I believe our deal with Amazon precludes a Netflix component, so I think Netflix, who has expressed interest and has expressed great enthusiasm for the show… I don’t think contractually with our Amazon contract, they can pick up the show.”

So, basically, Amazon is the only place that Hannibal can contractually go.

Picking up Hannibal would be a big, bold move for the site because they’re the only big streaming site that hasn’t yet saved a popular television show from cancellation. Netflix picked up Arrested Development and The Killing, Hulu scooped up The Mindy Project, and Yahoo Screen brought Community back from the dead. To date, all of Amazon’s original programming has been completely original programming — save for their latest offering, Catastrophe. The offbeat sitcom originally aired on Britain’s Channel 4 and Amazon has exclusive stateside screening rights.

Why would Amazon want to step up and pick up the infamously expensive (and rather controversial) Hannibal? Because they desperately need to build up a more robust stable of dramas and they need to make sure people know that they’re serious about drama.

Amazon already has comedy on lock down. This year, Transparent became the first streaming show to beat out traditional television shows for the Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy and it’s also hyped to storm the Emmys. While House of Cards and Orange Is The New Black have garnered a ton of respect and nabbed individual actors accolades, Netflix has yet to win a Best Comedy or Best Drama award at that level. So, Amazon inched by their main competitor in that respect. Still, Netflix keeps churning out high-quality and impressive dramas. Besides House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, Netflix has seen critical success with Bloodline and Marvel’s Daredevil, and looking ahead, there’s strong buzz for Narcos, The Get Down, and The Crown.  Amazon, meanwhile, has Bosch. You know Bosch, right? Oh, and Man in the High Castle, Hand of God, and Mad Dogs are all being prepped for full-season runs later this year. Still, Amazon isn’t known for producing high-quality drama in the same way that Netflix is. Picking up Hannibal could help change this.

Picking up Hannibal wouldn’t guarantee Amazon a Golden Globe nomination or Emmy award, but it would officially announce that they are a home for a specific type of drama. Hannibal has a fervent fan base and is a critical darling, but more importantly, it’s bold, beautiful, and dark. You could also argue that the same tone runs through Amazon’s upcoming drama slate. Hannibal’s style wouldn’t detract from the other shows that Amazon is producing, but rather, tie everything together.  I’m not sure the average Hannibal fan knows that the upcoming Man in the High Castle — a smart, stylized drama about an alternate universe where the Allies lost World War II — is probably right up their alley. But if Amazon becomes the only place to watch Hannibal, there’s a better chance they’ll find out about Man in the High Castle, or the dreadfully dark Hand of God, or the slick, yet sexily macabre, Mad Dogs. Hannibal fans are the kinds of viewers Amazon wants, and by resurrecting the show on streaming, Amazon will have those Fannibals’ full and undivided attention.

In the end, Hannibal‘s worth might not be measured in its artistry, but in its ability to tie together a brand. Netflix has established itself as a pulpier HBO and Hulu is trying to be the home of hip, popular programming for the masses. Amazon’s strongest offerings are smart, edgy, and challenging and Hannibal is all three of those things.

Now, Hannibal fans have to wait to see if Amazon thinks the show’s buzz is worth its hefty price tag. [Watch Seasons 1 & 2 of Hannibal on Amazon]

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[Photos: NBC]