Hannibal Recasting: Michael Pitt Is Out, Joe Anderson Replaces Actor

The creepiness will continue. Actor Michael Pitt has quietly exited NBC television series Hannibal, TVLine reported this past weekend, with actor Joe Anderson stepping in to portray sociopathic pig farmer Mason Verger.

Pitt, 33, played the psychotic meat-packing magnate in season two of the series, and his departure from the show coincides with a rather timely part of story line. In one of the final episodes of this past season, Pitt’s character was forced to inhale several hallucinogenic drugs, and Hannibal Lecter manipulates Verger to carve off parts of his own face. Lecter then breaks the character’s neck, leaving him paralyzed and mutilated.

Pitt’s replacement Anderson has previously starred in Across the Universe, The River, and he portrayed nomadic vampire Alistair (who had the unique gift of tracking) in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Anderson, 32, took to his Instagram to share a rather gross photo from his hair and makeup routine on the set of Hannibal. “How long does it take you to put your face on in the morning? #hannibal,” the British star wrote alongside a photo of a realistic-looking molding of a person’s face.

Tell Us: What do you think of these casting changes?

ncG1vJloZrCvp2PCtLnAoJizoZ6ae6S7zGicp6yVp8Gitc2mnKesX6OyuL%2BOoZinppmXrq150Z6amquknruoecyimqGZlaF6sbXTrWSiq12kwrV5yaicZpmembKzv86nZKudoKGupLHSZpicrJ%2BnenN8kG1pa2li