'Silence of the Lambs' Spin-off 'Clarice' Confirmed at CBS

The world of Silence of the Lambs is all set to be renewed of sorts as one of the most acclaimed movies from the 90s is all set to back in the form of a spin-off.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network announced Sunday at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour that it has handed out a sizable series commitment to a Silence of the Lambs TV spinoff called Clarice. The drama, which technically still needs a formal series pickup to move forward, hails from Star Trek franchise captain Alex Kurtzman and his CBS TV Studios-based Secret Hideout banner. Kurtzman will pen the script alongside Jenny Lumet, who also serves as co-showrunner on CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discover. Aaron Baiers will co-exec produce.

Sources say a writers room has already been opened with a script already completed. The plan currently calls for a pilot to be produced before a formal series pickup. The potential series is a co-production between MGM TV, which owns the rights to Lambs, and CBS TV Studios.

The potential series takes place in 1993, a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs. Clarice is described as a deep dive into the untold personal story of Clarice Starling — the role made famous by Jodie Foster in the feature — as she returns to the field to pursue serial murderers and sexual predators while navigating the high stakes political world of Washington, D.C. An actress for the role has not yet been announced.

“After more than 20 years of silence, we’re privileged to give voice to one of America’s most enduring heroes – Clarice Starling,” Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet said in a joint statement Sunday announcing the news. “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.”