Marnee Carpenter (Criminal Minds, Good Girls, Wild Oats) has joined CBS’ The Silence of the Lambs sequel series Clarice as a series regular. Jayne Atkinson (Criminal Minds), Shawn Doyle (The Expanse), and Tim Guinee (Homeland) have also joined the project in recurring/guest roles, according to Deadline.
RELATED: Interrogation Cancelled at CBS All Access After One Season
Carpenter will play Catherine Martin, who was saved from Buffalo Bill’s basement by Clarice Starling (Rebecca Breeds). Atkinson portrays Ruth Martin, the newly appointed Attorney General and mother of Catherine Martin (Carpenter). Doyle plays Clarice Starling’s therapist at Quantico while Guinee plays Novak, the leader of a secessionist militia group.
The cast will join Rebecca Breeds (Pretty Little Liars) and the previously announced Kal Penn (Designated Survivor), Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead), Nick Sandow (Orange Is the New Black), Lucca De Oliveira (SEAL Team), and Devyn A. Tyler (The Purge) on the series.
Set in 1993, six months 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. The character has previously been played by Jodie Foster, who won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Silence of the Lambs, and Oscar winner Julianne Moore in 2001’s Hannibal.
The series is written and executive produced by frequent collaborators Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek: Discovery) and Jenny Lumet, who are both also currently working together on CBS All Access’ upcoming series The Man Who Fell to Earth. The project is co-production between MGM and CBS Television Studios in association with Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout. Heather Kadin of Secret Hideout will also executive produce with Aaron Baiers co-executive producing. The series is slated for a midseason 2020-2021 premiere.
RELATED: Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Officially Begins Production
Based on the novel by Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs film was directed by Jonathan Demme (Rachel Getting Married) from a screenplay adapted by Ted Tally. Its starred Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in their iconic roles as Clarice Starling and Dr. Hannibal Lecter. On top of its critical and commercial success with over $270 million gross worldwide, the film swept the top 5 major categories at the 64th Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor and Actress for Foster and Hopkins’ incredible performances. The role of Clarice Starling was taken over by Julianne Moore in Ridley Scott’s 2001 sequel Hannibal, and should the Hannibal tv series have continued producer Bryan Fuller wanted to cast Ellen Page as Starling.
