We don’t want ‘Clarice’! We want ‘Hannibal’ season 4

We bring good news & bad news. Thomas Harris’s beloved novel series that incepted the iconic Hannibal Lector is getting another adaptation. However, Hannibal Lector likely won’t be in it at all. 

CBS has launched production of Clarice, a new series focusing on the character Clarice Starling, the character Hannibal fans will recognize from 1991’s Silence of the Lambs. Taking place six months after where the film left off, Clarice will take a sidestep from major plots involving Hannibal Lector.

Like so many shows, Clarice was impacted by COVID-19 social distancing, meaning that the pilot episode set to premiere late 2020/early 2021 has yet to be completed. The release date for Clarice will likely face delays. 

That being said, Clarice is the closest thing we have to a Harris adaptation in the near future. Here’s everything we know so far about Clarice and why it’ll undoubtedly feign in comparison to the knockout NBC series Hannibal.

What will Clarice bring?

Similar to every other production of Harris’s source content, Clarice will be another detective show with a lugubrious twist. Enticing true crime & horror fans, Clarice will take place in Washington D.C. following investigation of serial killers & major crimes.

The role of Clarice Starling will be assumed by Rebecca Breeds – known for The Originals & Pretty Little Liars. Bringing on this fresh talent will allow the show to explore the character of Clarice beyond Jodie Foster’s renowned interpretation in the 1991 film, The Silence of the Lambs. 

Clarice will also bring on some familiar faces to its cast such as Kal Penn (Designated Survivor, House), Nick Sandow (Orange is the New Black), Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead), Lucca De Oliveira (The Punisher), & Devyn Tyler (The Purge).

Why focus on Clarice Starling? 

Instead of welcoming back Hannibal, our titillating psychiatrist cannibal, Clarice will narrow its focus to FBI Agent Clarice Starling. The show promises to take “a deep dive into the untold personal story” of the character “as she returns to the field in 1992.” After the events in Silence of the Lambs, Clarice will be newly awakened by her experience with Dr. Lecter – now a bit more haunted & jaded. 

The official logline makes a case for Clarice as the main character, explaining how she has a “complex psychological makeup that comes from a challenging childhood empowers her to begin to find her voice while working in a man’s world, as well as escape the family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life.”

“Hannibal [Lecter] is an incredible character, as is [FBI agent] Will Graham,” acknowledged Clarice executive producer Alex Kurtzman. “But Clarice Starling has a truly unique amazing psychology, and part of why Silence of the Lambs was so wonderful is the film put you so squarely in her shoes.”

Kurtzman added that he understood the “responsibilities & expectations” tied to a show with such exemplary content. Because so many are already enamoured with the original The Silence of the Lambs and the more contemporary series Hannibal, it’s a pretty bold move to take on Clarice.

Will it measure up to Hannibal? 

NBC’s Hannibal, created by Bryan Fuller, dazzled us with its surrealist interpretation of the psychological horror story of Hannibal Lector. Rich with nightmare-inducing imagery, poetic nuance, & top-tier acting talent, television fanatics can’t help but give a chef’s kiss to the impeccable series. 

Alas, we have serious doubts that Clarice will ever compare to such perfection. How could it without our shining star, Mads Mickelson, executing Hannibal’s bone-chilling presence? Plucking out Clarice’s story from source content devoid of Hannibal’s unique brilliance, will always seem like a crippling downgrade.

We’re praying that production of Clarice doesn’t overshadow the pursuit of Hannibal season 4, which we’re desperately still hoping for despite its unjust cancellation. We do know Bryan Fuller is itching for a chance to continue the story, just waiting for a streaming service to rescue the beloved show. 

The creator confirmed a potential for Hannibal season 4, saying, “We just need a network or a streaming service that wants to do it, too. I don’t feel there’s a clock on it or an expiration date for the idea. We just need someone to bite.” Fuller also assured us that “no one has given up” on the revival – this includes leads Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy who have expressed interest in Hannibal season 4 as well.

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Are you looking forward to Clarice? Give us your thoughts below.