Hettienne Park Defends ‘Hannibal’ Show Creator Over Character Death

Fans are rarely happy when a TV series kills off a main character, and that was very much the case with Bryan Fuller’s decision to kill Beverly Katz on Hannibal. However, actress Hettienne Park has defended Fuller’s decision in killing her character.

Fans accused Fuller of sexism and racism after the show’s title character, played by Mads Mikkelson, killed Park’s Dr. Beverly Katz – the only Asian actress in the series – prompting the actress to stand up for the writer.

In a blog post, she writes, “Fuller cast me in a role that I didn’t think I had a chance in hell of getting. Pretty open-minded, non-racist, pro-feminine writing and casting in my opinion…

“Hannibal is based on the Thomas Harris (Red Dragon) novels and it (show) centers on the relationship between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham – two dudes, so that’s where the focus will be and will likely remain.”

The actress goes on to explain that Fuller wanted to keep her on the show longer, but producers insisted he should kill her character off. In addition, she praises him for giving her character a solid storyline.

She continues, “Yes, Fuller could’ve kept me on for longer and if he had, my character would’ve probably remained in the background processing crime scenes, regurgitating technical exposition. Instead – albeit not for very long – he wrote enough for Katz to make people get to know her a little better, actually identify with her, and like her enough to care when she gets killed.

“If people can identify with this character regardless of the color of her skin, or like her regardless of her sex without her having to play the qualities we usually see chicks play, then that’s a good thing in my opinion.”

Park’s death scene on the show featured in an episode, which aired last Friday night.

Hettienne Park Defends ‘Hannibal’ Show Creator Over Character Death Related Articles

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *