This week Hannibal showrunner Bryan Fuller ran into The Silence of the Lambs star Jodie Foster at an Emmys after-party, and Tweeted an image that ignited enthusiastic fan speculation that Fuller was courting her to direct some episodes of his hit series.
Foster has taken on less acting roles over the last few years, and has instead turned her attention toward directing. She’s directed films like The Beaver and Home for the Holidays, and recently helmed a few episodes of popular Netflix shows House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. The role of Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs is perhaps her most iconic, and fans would love to see her involved in the newest iteration of the series.
According to Fuller, however, it’s not in the cards. Not only does Foster have a full slate of upcoming projects (including the film Money Monster starring George Clooney), but her past with the franchise would run the risk of complicating her artistic vision. In an interview with Shock Till You Drop, Fuller said:
“We reached out to her in the first season, when we started to think about Hannibal,” he told me. “I think she’s a wonderful director and would love to have her involved, I don’t think it’s a thing that’s going to happen because she’s got a lot going on. And it’s a television show connected to her most iconic performance and revisiting that territory might be artistically complicated for her. It was great to meet the her and she’s absolutely stunning and she just glows. She has a wonderful light about her.”
Hannibal‘s third season will premiere in early 2015, while the season 2 DVD and Blu-ray hits store shelves on September 16th.
Originally published August 28, 2014. Updated November 7, 2019.
