‘Hannibal’ creator says he drew inspiration from ’80s faves for film debut ‘Dust Bunny’

By Canadian Press on September 10, 2025.

TORONTO — “Hannibal” creator Bryan Fuller brought his macabre monster fantasy “Dust Bunny” to the Toronto International Film Festival, but it’s his other killer screen character that he can’t shake.

Fuller says one of the first things he did upon arriving in Toronto was visit the historical downtown building that served as Hannibal Lecter’s office in the TV series, located just outside the perimeter of the festival’s main circuit.

The L.A.-based Fuller says he also met with “Hannibal” producing director Chris Byrne and they sat on Hannibal’s front steps to reminisce over how much they loved working on the Toronto-shot dark drama, which maintains a cult following a decade after ending.

Fuller is in town to promote a whimsical horror film in which “Hannibal” star Mads Mikkelsen plays a hit man hired by a girl to kill the monster she believes is under her bed.

“Dust Bunny” is part of TIFF’s Midnight Madness program, which features off-kilter comedy, action, horror and fantasy flicks. The film is hard to categorize in any single genre.

It screens again Friday, with TIFF set to wrap Sunday.

Fuller said he was inspired to write and direct a high-concept tale with heart that evoked the “young-people-in-peril” stories he grew up with in the ’80s, citing “Gremlins,” “Poltergeist” and “The Goonies” as examples.

“We’re not seeing a lot of those anymore, especially in a genre space,” Fuller said Tuesday, when he wore a sequined Bugs Bunny shirt for a day of interviews.

“I really want to return to the Amblin era of the ‘80s appointment summer movies,” he said, referring to the entertainment company behind a slew of popcorn hits during that decade.

Fuller gushed over the “rowdy crowd” that turned up for “Dust Bunny”‘s midnight premiere Monday: “I loved that the theatre reeked of weed and that everybody was having a good time.”

Fuller said he also attended a screening for Mikkelsen’s other TIFF film, the dark comedy “The Last Viking” from Denmark’s Anders Thomas Jensen.

Because he was there as a guest, Fuller had time to hang out with the “Hannibal” fans who turned up, noting he’s become friends with some of the so-called “Fannibals” after getting to know them through Instagram and social media.

“It really is a family and it really is a supportive network,” he said of the “Hannibal” fandom.

“I love the art. I love the community. I love how kind everyone is to each other and that we all just love the same things.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2025.

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press