Bryan Fuller’s Dust Bunny is easily the most creative and visually stunning film I’ve seen from 2025. It cleverly combines a monster story suitable for families with exciting action, but at its heart, it’s a quirky tale about the unusual bond between a scared little girl and her neighbor, who happens to be a hitman. The movie is made for a big-screen experience, which makes it even stranger that it’s finally being released nine years after Fuller and Mads Mikkelsen—his former star from Hannibal—first planned to work together on it.
The movie, releasing December 12th, features Mads Mikkelsen as a highly-trained assassin who’s become a target himself – a man too focused on survival to believe a little girl whose parents were supposedly eaten by a monster under her bed. (And yes, the monster really did do it!) The role demands both impressive physical skills and emotional range, plus a certain charm to make the unusual protector-and-protected relationship believable. It speaks volumes about Mikkelsen’s talent that the script was actually written with him in mind.
As a huge fan of Bryan Fuller’s work – seriously, Pushing Daisies is a masterpiece – I was fascinated to hear him talk to TopMob about finally getting Dust Bunny made. He said the whole journey actually started way back when Rogue One: A Star Wars Story came out in December 2016! I even asked him if he’d ever work with Mads Mikkelsen again – you know, his Hannibal Lecter – and he told me:
I originally wrote the story for Mads Mikkelsen and even pitched it to him as an episode for the Amazing Stories series at the Rogue One premiere – he immediately agreed. However, it eventually evolved into a feature film when we couldn’t get it made as part of that show. The project bounced around between several studios for years, almost getting made multiple times with different actors, but always falling through. It felt like it needed just the right star to finally get it off the ground.
This story feels like a trip back in time! It connects the popular movie Rogue One with the short-lived Amazing Stories reboot that Steven Spielberg created for Apple’s streaming service. While the creator ultimately left that reboot, it’s probably a good thing. I think we’re lucky to have Dust Bunny as a full movie, rather than just one part of an anthology series.
Even though Fuller was eager to move forward quickly, not everyone in the television industry agreed. Despite the strong fan base for Hannibal and the widespread praise for Mads Mikkelsen’s performance, studio executives were unsure about him as the main actor. The director explained further:
Many people were hesitant to cast Mads Mikkelsen, preferring an American actor instead. It was difficult to get the project approved with him attached, but we eventually found someone who agreed. I really wanted Mads for the role because he’s such a versatile actor and I knew he could handle everything it required.
As Fuller noted, Mads Mikkelsen is known for playing convincingly menacing characters, but that’s only one aspect of his talent. While Dust Bunny leans into the persona many viewers already recognize, it also subverts it in interesting ways. Fuller specifically found this range and versatility crucial to the story.
We knew Mads Mikkelsen could convincingly play an assassin, based on roles like Le Chiffre in Casino Royale and his other villainous parts. He already had that skillset. What I wanted viewers to see in this performance was more of the man behind the character – his charm and surprisingly youthful energy. I had the chance to witness that side of him while working on Hannibal, and I wanted to share it with the audience.
The actor’s captivating presence shines through, both on screen in Dust Bunny and in person, proving Fuller’s faith in him was well-placed. He’s greatly supported by his co-stars, especially the incredibly talented Sophie Sloan as the energetic and frightened Aurora, and the always-excellent Sigourney Weaver, who plays a powerful character. The scenes between Mikkelsen and Weaver are particularly compelling – often just a simple conversation at a table, but incredibly engaging.
You really need to be a talented actor to pull off roles like that, don’t you think? Bryan Fuller highlighted some of Mads Mikkelsen’s best performances to show just how skilled and well-rounded of an actor he is.
Mads Mikkelsen is incredibly charming, and it’s interesting how often he plays restrained, controlled villains. I especially enjoy his collaborations with Anders Thomas Jensen on Danish films where he often portrays a more foolish, vulnerable character. While there are exceptions, like the excellent ‘Riders of Justice,’ films like ‘The Green Butcher,’ ‘Men & Chicken,’ and ‘The Last Viking’ showcase a completely different side of him – a comedic talent that’s a refreshing contrast to the intense roles he’s known for in big-budget action movies.
I’d really enjoy seeing Mads Mikkelsen star in a purely comedic role where he can be completely goofy. However, if that means putting Hannibal Season 4 on hold, I’m willing to accept it. I suspect a successful movie like Dust Bunny would increase the chances of Hannibal returning, though! Just saying…
Check out Dust Bunny‘s trailer below to hype yourself up for it.
Don’t forget to see Dust Bunny in theaters starting December 12th! You wouldn’t want a monster showing up under your bed, would you?
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2025-12-10 02:10