It's honestly almost impossible to imagine anyone besides Mads Mikkelsen portraying Dr. Hannibal Lecter on the cult NBC series "Hannibal," as the Danish actor fully embodies the show's version of the character. He is Hannibal Lecter, at least onscreen: a Machiavellian manipulator with an obscene wealth of knowledge, an impeccable sense of style, and a tendency toward eating people. His chemistry with his co-stars is undeniable, especially with Hugh Dancy, who plays empath and criminal profiler Will Graham. But back when NBC and series creator Bryan Fuller were first developing the show, they floated some very different actors before finally deciding on the magnificent Mikkelsen. 

Fuller has revealed in interviews that he had to fight a bit to get Mikkelsen cast, because the network wanted someone "more mainstream" than the man mostly known to American audiences as the bloody-teared villain Le Chiffre from "Casino Royale." Thankfully he got his way...