NBC pulls episode of serial killer drama ‘Hannibal’ in wake of Boston, Newtown violence

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This publicity image released by NBC shows Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in a scene from the TV series, "Hannibal," airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC. NBC says it\'s pulling an episode of its serial killer drama out of sensitivity to recent violence, including the Boston bombings. The episode, the fourth for the freshman series, will be replaced by another "Hannibal" hour. (AP Photo/NBC, Brooke Palmer)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – NBC says it’s pulling an episode of its serial killer drama “Hannibal” out of sensitivity to recent violence, including the Boston bombings.

NBC said Friday that the episode, which was to air next week, features a character who brainwashes children to kill other children.

The show’s producer, Bryan Fuller, asked NBC to pull the episode, citing the Newtown, Mass., school shooting in December and this week’s Boston Marathon attack, NBC said. The episode, the fourth for the freshman series, will be replaced by another “Hannibal” hour.

A “clip package” with scenes from the unaired episode will be available online next week, with commentary by Fuller, NBC said. Scenes involving the children won’t be included, the network said.

NBC’s decision to yank the “Hannibal” episode was first reported by Variety.

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