Michelle Pfeiffer Turned Down SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Because It Was Too Evil By Mike Sprague Silence of the Lambs. But director Jonathan Demme originally wanted Michelle Pfeiffer ( Batman Returns) for the role. But today, the actress admits she turned it down because it was “too evil.” She tells With The Silence of the Lambs, I was trepidatious. There was such evil in that film. The thing I most regret is missing the opportunity to do another film with Jonathan [Demme]. It was that evil won in the end, that at the end of that film evil ruled out. I was uncomfortable with that ending. I didn’t want to put that out into the world.”