Mads Mikkelsen did all of his own cooking on screen, including the egg trick. He was trained by the show's food stylist, Janice Poon.
Hugh Dancy actually recommended Mads Mikkelsen for the role of Hannibal Lecter, as the two actors had become friends during filming of King Arthur (2004).
Laurence Fishburne, who plays Jack Crawford, and Gina Torres, who plays Crawford's wife Bella, were married to each other in real life. They have since separated.
David Tennant auditioned for the lead role of Hannibal (2013). Producer Bryan Fuller was so impressed with his audition, he told a magazine that even though he didn't get the role, he wanted to write Tennant a guest role as a deranged serial killer.