CBS’ Clarice series has just cast the lead role of Clarice Starling in what will be a sequel series to The Silence of the Lambs, with Variety revealing that Rebecca Breeds (Pretty Little Liars) will play the young FBI agent in the upcoming thriller series.
Clarice Starling was first introduced in Thomas Harris’ novel The Silence of the Lambs as a young up-and-coming FBI trainee who found herself caught up in a case to find a serial killer, turning to the notorious Dr. Hannibal Lecter – ‘Hannibal The Cannibal’ – for help in the case.
The synopsis for the series reads: “Set in 1993, a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs, Clarice is a deep dive into the untold personal story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field to pursue serial murderers and sexual predators while navigating the high stakes political world of Washington, D.C.”
Breeds’ Starling is described as “brilliant and vulnerable. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from UVA with a double major in Psych and Criminology. Her bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. Her complex psychological makeup comes from a challenging childhood, and her drive comes from her need to escape the burden of family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life.”
Breeds follows in the footsteps of Jodie Foster, who originated the role in The Silence of the Lambs and earned an Academy Award for her performance, and Julianne Moore, who took over the role in the 2001 sequel Hannibal. While Bryan Fuller’s TV series Hannibal was on the air, he had hopes to later introduce Clarice into the story, but rights issues over the character and the series’ cancellation kept him from doing so. As of now, there seem to be no plans for the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter to appear in Clarice.
Clarice will be written and executive produced by Star Trek: Picard‘s Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet.
“After more than 20 years of silence, we’re privileged to give voice to one of America’s most enduring heroes – Clarice Starling,” the pair said when the show was first announced last month. “Clarice’s bravery and complexity have always lit the way, even as her personal story remained in the dark. But hers is the very story we need today: her struggle, her resilience, her victory. Her time is now, and always.”
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