James R | On 14, Jan 2015

Richard Armitage has joined the cast of Hannibal.

The actor will appear in Season 3 of the NBC series as none other than Francis Dolarhyde, aka. The Tooth Fairy, reports TV Line. The villain, who went up against Will Graham in Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon, was last brought to life on screen by Ralph Fiennes in the film of the same name.

A serial killer with an appetite for bumping off entire families (and a set of dentures to help him on his way) the role is a good match for Armitage. Although he is now best known for playing Thorin in The Hobbit, the actor impressed years ago in BBC’s Spooks as a spy with a dark, Russian-tinged past – giving him good grounding in softly spoken men with a secret to hide.

His arrival follows a wave of casting news for the series, which has just recast Joe Anderson replacing Michael Pitt as Mason Verger and Gillian Anderson’s Bedelia du Maurier officially being upgraded to a series regular.

The show will return to NBC this spring, with an expected UK air date of May on Sky Atlantic.

Season 1 and Season 2 of Hannibal are available to catch up with on NOW, as part of a £7.99 monthly subscription.

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