Mikkelsen to play serial killer Lecter Mads Mikkelsen arrives on the red carpet before the screening of the film "Therese Desqueyroux" during the closing ceremony of the 65th annual Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 27, 2012. LOS ANGELES, June 4 (UPI) -- NBC has cast Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as the titular psychiatrist-serial killer in its upcoming drama series "Hannibal Lecter," The Hollywood Reporter said. The 13-episode series is based on Thomas Harris' novels, which have spawned the hit movies "The Silence of the Lambs," "Red Dragon," "Hannibal" and "Hannibal Rising." Hugh Dancy is to play Will Graham, an FBI profiler and Lecter's nemesis, in the small-screen version of the story. Mikkelsen's film credits include "The Hunt," "Casino Royale" and "The Three Musketeers."