Years of work behind the scenes at CBS have paid off for ‘Clarice‘ co-creator, Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married, The Center Cannot Hold). According to Deadline, Lumet has scored an eight-figure, four-year deal with CBS Studios. Lumet’s career with the network began back in the 2016-17 TV season when one of her drama pitches was developed by Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek: Countdown, The Mummy) and Heather Kadin’s (Limitless, Sleepy Hollow) production company, Secret Hideout.
“I feel genuine support and creative partnership at CBS Studios,” Lumet said via Deadline. “It means the world to me that I can continue to work in so many different genres and know they’re behind me all the way. I’m so excited for this next step with such forward-thinking team. A special thank you to George Cheeks, David Nevins, David Stapf, and Bryan Seabury for continuing to believe!” Lumet stated via Deadline.
According to Deadline, Lumet has done most of her writing within the network’s growing Star Trek universe. She initially had executive producing stints on both Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard. Along with Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman (Winter’s Tale, I Am Legend), Lumet is co-creating the new series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Strange New Worlds is one of three new shows Lumet has jointly created with Kurtzman. They both executive produce Clarice, the sequel series set year after the events of Silence of the Lambs; and, the upcoming series adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (Talk to Me, 12 Years a Slave), Luzmet, Kurtzman, and John Hlavin (Shooter, Underworld: Awakening) serve as co-showrunners.
“Jenny is such a wonderfully gifted writer whose skills are not limited to any specific genre,” CBS Studios President David Stapf said via Deadline. “Whether it’s exploring complex characters like Clarice or world-building stories such as The Man Who Fell To Earth and Star Trek, Jenny writes with an insight and authenticity that reveals universal humanity. There’s nothing she cannot do. We feel so fortunate to be continuing our relationship with her,” Stapf said via Deadline.
According to Deadline, Lumet is also steering a project at Showtime centering her grandmother singer, actress, and activist, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather, The Wiz). Lumet is the creator, writer, and executive producer of Blackbird: Lena Horne and America, which will highlight the iconic star’s life.