First trailer for new 'Silence of the Lambs' spin-off series 'Clarice' lands

The first trailer for the new Silence of the Lambs spin-off series Clarice has landed, and its ominous, moody stuff.

Arriving on US network CBS, and produced by Star Trek custodian Alex Kurtzman, it finds Pretty Little Liars star Rebecca Breeds playing FBI agent Clarice Starling.

Set in 1993, it picks up the story a year on from her horrifying baptism of fire – encountering Hannibal Lecter and the serial killer Buffalo Bill in her first case.

And judging by the short teaser, Bill's shadow still looms large over her, with what appear to be flashbacks of pieces of human flesh being sewn together.

Moths, a central motif of the original book, by Thomas Harris, and the Jonathan Demme Oscar-winning movie, also feature in this one-minute long intro.

“Hannibal [Lecter] is an incredible character, as is [FBI agent] Will Graham,” Kurtzman told The Hollywood Reporter.

“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."

Read more: The best movies of 2020

Alongside Breeds on the bill are actor-turned-political operative Kal Penn, Orange Is The New Black's Nick Sandow and The Walking Dead star Michael Cudlitz.

Per Deadline, 'the series is a deep dive into the untold personal story of Clarice Starling (Rebecca Breeds), as she returns to the field to pursue serial murderers and sexual predators while navigating the high-stakes political world of Washington DC'.

Famously, Jodie Foster played Clarice in the 1991 movie, earning her the Best Actress Oscar, among all the top five gongs - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Sir Anthony Hopkins and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Julianne Moore then took on the role for the 2001 sequel Hannibal.

NBC, along with director Bryan Fuller, then made the origin series, also called Hannibal, with Mads Mikkelsen as the cannibalistic serial killer.

Watch: Brian Cox on playing Lecter