Jodie Foster Breaks Silence on Silence of the Lambs Return

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Jodie Foster, an Academy Award winner, explained that she didn’t hesitate to decline a chance to reprise her role in the sequel to the film that won her an Oscar. She simply didn’t want to play the same character again.

Jodie Foster recently told Variety that she didn’t hesitate to turn down the chance to play FBI Agent Clarice Starling again in the 2001 film Hannibal. She explained that after years of waiting for a new novel by the original author, Thomas Harris – a book he likely wrote very quickly – she wasn’t interested in continuing the role.

We waited for a response, but director Jonathan Demme, known for The Silence of the Lambs, turned it down because he didn’t like the source material. Fortunately, I was already working on another project, so I could easily say I wasn’t available, as Foster remembers.

The film, adapted from Thomas Harris’ 1988 novel, starred Anthony Hopkins as the notorious cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter. It was a huge commercial and critical success, earning over $272 million despite a small $19 million budget and winning numerous awards. However, a sequel wasn’t released for another ten years.

Directed by Ridley Scott, Hannibal featured Julianne Moore as FBI Agent Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins returning as Hannibal Lecter. While the film earned over $351 million in theaters on an $87 million budget, making it a financial success, critics generally found it focused more on visual style than a compelling story.

Even though critics didn’t like the earlier films, the series continued in 2002 with Red Dragon, a story that took place before The Silence of the Lambs. This film was Anthony Hopkins’ last time playing Hannibal Lecter. Then, in 2007, Hannibal Rising was released, telling the story of Lecter’s early life and starring Gaspard Ulliel as the young Hannibal.

What’s Next for The Silence of the Lambs Star Jodie Foster?

Jodie Foster doesn’t have any new movies or TV shows scheduled to come out in 2026, but that could change. Her recent film, A Private Life, was released in France in November 2025 and received excellent reviews. Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski and co-written by Anne Berest and Gaëlle Macé, the darkly comedic mystery made Foster the first American actress to be nominated for both the César and Lumière Awards.

There’s a possibility Jodie Foster might return as Alaska Police Chief Liz Danvers in a future season of True Detective: Night Country. She previously mentioned in 2024 that she was hesitant about another season and surprised that the original cast members were eager to come back.

López recalled being pleased when the creators of Night Country were open to certain ideas. She explained that she cautioned them, saying, ‘Let’s really consider this – it wouldn’t serve the characters well.’ She added that the audience had deeply connected with these characters and their significant personal growth throughout the story, and changing things wouldn’t honor that journey.

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2026-01-08 19:08