Summer’s about to get real gruesome when Season 3 of NBC’s Hannibal premieres.

Back in May, NBC renewed Bryan Fuller‘s psychological drama, which is based Thomas Harris’ literary villain Dr. Hannibal Lecter, for a third season. But, instead of having the new episodes premiere mid-season as with the television show’s previous seasons, the network is pushing Hannibal to the Summer.

Not much explanation was given for the Summer start except that NBC “loves Summer.”

Below is a quote from NBC Chairman Bob Greenblatt about the push, via EW.

Also, Richard Armitage, who had the starring role as Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit film trilogy, is joining the show for a 6-episode arc, according to Variety, who added that the actor will debut in Episode 8. Armitage will appear as Francis Dolarhyde, another one of Harris’s characters — the serial killer nicknamed The Tooth Fairy who bites his victims. Reoccurring guest star Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) is being promoted to series regular for Season 3, while Joe Anderson (The Divide) will replace Michael Pitt as Mason Verger (the psycho with the prized pigs).

Season 1 premiered on April 4, 2013 on Thursdays at 10pm, with Season 2 starting on February 28, 2014 in the Friday 10pm timeslot. Both seasons ran 13 episodes each. Filming began on Season 3 on October 20, 2014, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

So, looks like we’re going to have to wait a little longer for more gory further adventures of the serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and the gifted, but delicate profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy).

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