The 2013Hannibalseries was brimming with villainous characters, but none stood out more than Michael Pitt’s portrayal of the infamous Mason Verger, a twisted and predatory heir to a large meatpacking fortune.Hannibalcreator Bryan Fullereven called this character the “Joker to Hannibal’s Batman" (viaDigital Spy). In the grand scheme of the franchise, the character of Mason Verger has now been played by three distinct actors, including the greatGary Oldman in Ridley Scott’s 2001Hannibalfilm.
In light of the series’ relatively short run (given that NBC’sHannibalwas canceled before it could receive a season 4), it is surprising thatthe role of Mason Verger was mysteriously recastafter the end ofHannibalseason 2. This caused a good deal of confusion amongst the fanbase – at least for those who picked up on the subtle change.
Michael Pitt’s Performance Was A Key Part Of The Show
While one would expect the title villain to be the primary “rub” of the show, Mason Verger served an unexpectedly important purpose in theHannibalseries, arguably acting as more of a primary antagonist thanDr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen)himself. Even though the NBC spin-off focuses primarily upon the characters of Thomas Harris’ firstHannibalnovel,Red Dragon(1988), show creator Bryan Fuller could not leave out theHannibalnovel character of Mason Verger without wasting the potential of a viable adversary for Dr. Lecter.
Season 2 episode 10, “Naka-Choko”
8.9/10
Season 2 episode 11, “Ko no Mono”
Season 2 episode 12, “Tome-wan”
9.2/10
Michael Pitt adapted Gary Oldman’s iconic performance from the 2001 Ridley ScottHannibal, managing to remain faithful to this original performance while also putting his own spin on the role. The levity that Pitt brought to this exceptionally dark and repugnant character was unique to his portrayal and made him a fan favorite.Michael Pitt’s Joker-like version of Mason Vergerprovided comedic reliefand friction in equal measure.
Why Michael Pitt Left NBC’s Hannibal And Who Played Mason Verger In Season 3
Despite repeated allegations that the star is difficult to work with,Dreamers’Michael Pitt actually leftHannibaldue to scheduling conflicts. The timing of his departure was highly convenient given that the character of Mason Verger fed his own face to Will Graham’s (Hugh Dancy) dogs in episode 12 ofHannibalseason 2, “Tome-wan.” This made the recasting of Verger virtually seamless, as his horrific disfigurement made it easy to pass off the role to a new actor. Funnily enough, this was the same reason Gary Oldman was able to fly under the radar inHannibal.
Season 3 episode 4, “Aperitivo”
7.9/10
Season 3 episode 5, “Contorno”
9.0/10
Season 3 episode 6, “Dulce”
8.7/10
Season 3 episode 7, “Digestivo”
9.3/10
In season 3 ofHannibal, Joe Anderson stepped into the character of Mason Verger, lending the role a darker and more serious tone than was seen in Pitt’s portrayal. Anderson heavily channeled Oldman’s version of Verger, and while the fanbase seemed to mostly prefer the casting of Michael Pitt,Anderson more than did justice to this monstrousHannibalvillain.
Hannibal
Cast
Created for TV by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a TV adaptation/reimagining of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel. The show follows the exploits of FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and their perpetual game of cat and mouse that unfolds over the series. When a string of murders in Minnesota requires a brilliant mind to crack the case, Will Graham is called in to investigate - but due to the intimate and terrifying nature of the crimes, he is appointed Dr. Lecter to act as his psychiatrist. The truth of Dr. Lecter is that he is Will’s target - but to complicate matters, he’s the only person that can truly understand him.
