Hannibal showrunner Bryan Fuller discusses his transition to film with Dust Bunny.

      Although Bryan Fuller created and oversaw the series Pushing Daisies and Hannibal, he never had the opportunity to direct any episodes. Therefore, for his directorial feature debut, Dust Bunny, he wanted to focus on something that held significant meaning for him.

      This project may also resonate with the young audience it aims to reach.

      “There’s that saying about accumulating 10,000 hours of experience,” Fuller shares, “and I certainly have that as a showrunner. I was essentially the director of directors. I played a key role in the design and aesthetic of a show. My passion for aesthetics and the emotions they evoke provided me the capacity to convey everything we aimed to achieve.”

      Fuller’s premise for Dust Bunny is straightforward: “A little girl hires a hitman to eliminate the monster lurking beneath her bed.”

      The family horror film is filled with vibrant colors and explosive action, merging genres in an exhilarating manner.

      In the film, the titular bunny is a creature hiding under the bed of young Aurora (Sophie Sloan). After it consumes her foster parents, she seeks help from her neighbor, Resident 5B (Mads Mikkelsen). Together on their fairy-tale journey, they confront assassins, the Queen of Killers (played by Sigourney Weaver), and the Dust Bunny itself.

      For Aurora, emotions can be just as terrifying as monsters and as exhilarating as action. She perseveres through all challenges — similar to Weaver’s iconic character Ripley from the Alien series.

      “I discussed with Sigourney how characters like Ripley or Geneviève Bujold in Coma were women I admired for their righteousness and integrity when I was growing up,” Fuller reflects. “As a queer individual, they were my icons. Sigourney mentioned, ‘It’s interesting you found strength in Ripley; I see her as someone striving to find power.’

      “I explained, ‘That’s what makes her so significant, not just for queer kids but for anyone who feels marginalized or powerless. Looking at Ellen Ripley, one can think, ‘If she can endure, I have a chance.’

      “That’s a vital message in Aurora: Despite being a small girl, she continuously rescues herself until someone comes to her aid. I hope that those who need encouragement will find something in Aurora to which they can relate and draw inspiration.”

      Dust Bunny’s director Bryan Fuller.

      Bryan Fuller on Reuniting With Mads Mikkelsen for Dust Bunny

      This project marks a reunion between Fuller and his Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen, who portrays both an anti-hero and a father figure. The actor's stoic demeanor and vibrant jumpsuits stand out amidst the colorful action.

      “Mads is a huge Bruce Lee admirer, and I envisioned him in a yellow tracksuit, wielding nunchucks,” Fuller explains. “It’s pure wish fulfillment for him. When Mads came for his costume fitting, he remarked, ‘I’ve been trying to decipher who this character is that would wear these outfits, and I finally decided to trust you.’”

      Dust Bunny was initially intended as an episode for the 2020 reboot of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, but the series was ultimately canceled. The original show debuted in 1985 and was an early production from Amblin Entertainment, co-founded by Spielberg.

      “There was something inherently appealing about the Amblin brand, known for its high-concept, emotional storytelling,” Fuller shares, “that offered an adventure featuring young characters in peril, which excited me as a child. Watching those films felt like a must-see experience, much like what we've lost in today’s cinema landscape.”

      While writing Dust Bunny, Fuller was inspired by composers like Alexandre Desplat, Jerry Goldsmith, and Franz Waxman, who created the score for Bride of Frankenstein. He aimed to showcase the humanity within his big, furry lead character, akin to the classic Universal Monsters.

      “I found Universal Monsters to be deeply insightful about the human experience and our darker sides,” Fuller observes. “We often remember the striking images from those films, focusing on the monstrous appearances, but they are rich, multi-dimensional characters filled with longing and suffering. I find them profoundly relatable.”

      Fuller is no stranger to crafting stories about outsiders hiding their true selves, from Ned’s ability to communicate with the dead in Pushing Daisies to Mikkelsen’s depiction of Dr. Lecter in Hannibal.

      Fuller and his cinematographer, Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, frequently discussed the “flavors” of color they wanted to incorporate into the film’s visual style. They aimed for an aesthetic that was both delightful and indulgent.

      “Our film is like mango chicken, as opposed to something solely savory like Hannibal or purely sweet like Pushing Daisies,” Fuller states. “We drew inspiration from French cinema, as I am a huge fan of French maximalism.”

      Dust Bunny reunites writer-director Bryan Fuller with Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen