A Silence of the Lambs television show has been confirmed, as per Deadline.
Following on from the 1993 movie that made Hannibal Lecter a household name, it will delve into the life of FBI agent Clarice Starling after the lambs stopped screaming. However, the timeline means that Jodie Foster, now 57, who played the character in the original movie, will almost certainly not be returning to reprise the role as a fledgling officer.
This is the chilling official trailer for The Silence of the Lambs:The new TV show, titled Clarice, will be produced by CBS, and The Man Who Fell to Earth co-creators Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet will be producing and writing the spin-off.
In an interview with Deadline, Kurtzman and Lumet said: "After more than 20 years of silence, we’re privileged to give voice to one of America’s most enduring heroes - Clarice Starling.
Credit: 1448"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."
However, it will likely come as no surprise to fans of the original that plans for a spin-off in the form of a TV show have been considered before. Specifically in 2012 when MGM and Lifetime united to create a story based on the fledgling agent's early career - a prequel of sorts, as per the Hollywood Reporter. But it was ultimately shelved.
Credit: 2312Describing the upcoming show, Deadline wrote: "The series is a deep dive into the untold personal story of 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."
And while Clarice might be (currently) best known for her dealings with Hannibal Lecter, Deadline reports, he will not be appearing in the spin-off - although there's no doubt that he will be placed with someone (or something) equally foreboding.
Needless to say, a potential release date will be announced sometime in the future.