Laurence Fishburne is joining NBC’s new serial killer drama "Hannibal" for a key recurring role.

Playing FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit leader Jack Crawford, Fishburne ("The Matrix") takes on a role most recently played by Harvey Keitel in director Brett Ratner's 2002 film "Red Dragon."

"Hannibal," based on Thomas Harris’ bestselling Hannibal Lecter novels, is expected to premiere midseason with 13 episodes, which will mine background elements from Harris’ book "Red Dragon."

Written by Bryan Fuller ("Pushing Daises," "Wonderfalls"), "Hannibal" centers on the infamous cannibal psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), who works with FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) to solve crimes. However, unlike "Silence of the Lambs," the series begins by exploring Lecter's time before he exposed his true nature.

“Laurence Fishburne is an iconic man who has been making his cinematic mark since 'Apocalypse Now,' and it’s a thrill not only to work with him but to see such a brilliant, sophisticated actor step into the shoes of Thomas Harris’ brilliant, sophisticated character,” Fuller said in a statement to EW.com. “I cannot imagine a better cast for 'Hannibal' than the one we’ve assembled.”

David Slade is directing the first episode; he has helmed features such as "30 Days of Night" and "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" and has directed television episodes from NBC's drama "Awake" and AMC's "Breaking Bad."

Fuller is also producing the series along with Martha DeLaurentiis, Sara Colleton, Jesse Alexander and Katie O'Connell.