Clarice (TV series)
A sequel series set between The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal.
Clarice is an American horror crime drama television series that aired in 2021. It was created by Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, drawing from Thomas Harris's 1988 novel *The Silence of the Lambs*. The story takes place chronologically between the 1991 film adaptation of that novel and the 2001 film *Hannibal*. The series debuted on CBS on February 11, 2021, with Rebecca Breeds portraying the lead character, FBI agent Clarice Starling.
The main cast also includes Michael Cudlitz as Paul Krendler, Lucca De Oliveira as Tomas Esquivel, Kal Penn as Shaan Tripathi, Nick Sandow as Murray Clarke, Devyn A. Tyler as Ardelia Mapp, and Marnee Carpenter as Catherine Martin. Recurring roles feature Shawn Doyle as Clarice's original therapist, Jayne Atkinson as U.S. Attorney General Ruth Martin, K. C. Collins as Agent Garrett, Tim Guinee as Novak, Peter McRobbie as Nils Hagen, Douglas Smith as Tyson Conway, Simon Northwood as Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb, and Elizabeth Saunders as Bea Love.
Development began in January 2020 when CBS Studios hired Kurtzman and Lumet to create a sequel series to the 1991 film. It was among 14 pilot orders from CBS in February and was fast-tracked to series the following March due to the COVID-19 pandemic halting pilot production. CBS officially picked up the series on May 8, with a February 11, 2021 premiere announced in December alongside a trailer. Due to complex rights issues between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Dino de Laurentiis Company, the series cannot include or reference Hannibal Lecter. Kurtzman noted that avoiding Lecter felt liberating, as the character had been well-handled by others and offered little fresh ground.
In May 2021, CBS began negotiations to move the series to Paramount+ for a second season. By June, that relocation seemed unlikely. Talks between ViacomCBS and co-producer MGM reached a stalemate, and CBS had no room on its network schedule due to a full slate of shows. Industry observers described the situation as unusual, with a show that had a new season pickup facing cancellation and putting hundreds of people out of work, despite involving a well-known intellectual property and a top producer like Kurtzman. As of 2026, the show has not been officially canceled.
Rebecca Breeds was cast as Clarice Starling in February 2020. Lucca De Oliveira and Devyn A.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Psychological horror / Crime drama / Police procedural
- Based On
- The Silence of the Lambs · Thomas Harris
- Creator
- Jenny Lumet / Alex Kurtzman
- Starring
- Rebecca Breeds / Michael Cudlitz / Lucca De Oliveira / Kal Penn / Nick Sandow / Devyn A. Tyler / Marnee Carpenter
- Composer
- Jeff Russo
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 13
- Executive Producer
- Elizabeth J.B. Klaviter / Heather Kadin / Jenny Lumet / Alex Kurtzman
- Producer
- Paula Devonshire
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series was developed in January 2020 when CBS Studios hired Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet to create a sequel series to the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs. It was among 14 pilot episodes ordered by CBS in February 2020 and was fast-tracked to series the following March due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down production. CBS picked up the series on May 8, 2020, and announced a premiere date of February 11, 2021. Due to complicated rights issues between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Dino de Laurentiis Company, the series cannot feature or reference Hannibal Lecter. Kurtzman stated this was liberating as they had no interest in writing about the character.
Reader's Guide
Clarice represents a notable attempt to expand the Silence of the Lambs universe without its central antagonist, Hannibal Lecter, due to rights restrictions. The series received mixed to negative reviews, with a 37% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 55 out of 100, indicating 'mixed or average reviews.' Critics described it as 'effectively grim, but narratively bland' and 'a disturbingly safe procedural.' Despite a full first season, the show faced an uncertain future when CBS entered negotiations to relocate it to Paramount+ for a second season in May 2021. By June, the relocation became 'unlikely' due to a stalemate between ViacomCBS and co-producer MGM, and CBS had no space on its network schedule. As of 2026, the show has not been officially canceled, leaving its legacy as a short-lived, rights-constrained sequel that failed to capture critical or audience acclaim.
Did You Know?
- Principal photography began on September 21, 2020, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and concluded on March 23, 2021.
- In May 2021, CBS entered negotiations to relocate the series to Paramount+ for its second season, but by June the relocation became 'unlikely' to happen.
- The series has an approval rating of 37% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 43 critic reviews.
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