In deference to the terrorist attack and dangerous manhunt in Boston, NBC has decided not to air next Thursday’s episode of its new thriller, “Hannibal.”
Series creator Brian Fuller made the call on pulling the episode, an NBC spokesperson tells TheWrap.
The fourth episode in the season, titled “Ceuf,” depicts children murdering children. It will be replaced by the fifth episode in the season lineup, “Coquiles,” on Thursday, April 25 at 10 p.m.
The move will bring “Hannibal’s” season finale up one week to Thursday, June 20.
Also read: Boston Bombings: ABC Reschedules Bomb-Related ‘Castle’
Featuring guest stars Molly Shannon (“Saturday Night Live”) and Gina Torres (“Suits”), here’s the official description for the pulled episode:
“A string of family murders takes place and Will (Hugh Dancy) determines they were conducted by each of the families' missing children, who were abducted and brainwashed into killing their old families for their sinister "new family." Against Alana's (Caroline Dhavernas) recommendation, Hannibal (Mads Mikkelson) checks Abigail (Kacey Rohl) out of the hospital for some frightening psychiatric practices that ultimately align her loyalty with him.”
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NBC will still make clips from the episode available on its website that portray character developments. And it will still air the episode overseas.
“Hannibal” premiered to soft ratings on April 4, but held steady until this week when it saw an 18 percent drop in the ad-coveted 18-49 demographic.
The news follows ABC’s decision to reschedule a bomb-related episode of “Castle” on Thursday. Also, NBC pre-empted “Revolution” for special news coverage earlier this week. And Fox pulled an already aired episode of “Family Guy” from its website and Hulu after a repurposed video from the episode that made it seem like the animated show was depicting the Boston bombings went viral.
Variety first reported the schedule change.