Nicole Kidman‘s reign as one of the queens of contemporary TV will continue over at Amazon Prime. IndieWire reports that the actress will star and executive produce a two-season order of “Scarpetta” at the streamer.  It’s a coup for Kidman, who’s reportedly wanted to adapt Patricia Cornwell‘s 2008 novel for almost twenty years.  What’s more, Kidman has a legendary co-star in the series: recent Emmy and Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis.
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Kidman and Curtis’ collective star power alone easily makes “Scarpetta” one of TV’s most anticipated upcoming series, but check out who else is involved.  Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, and Ariana DeBose also star, with Rosy McEwen and Jake Cannavale playing younger versions of Kidman and Cannavale’s characters. “Scarpetta” is also intriguing on the other side of the camera.  David Gordon Green, who directed Curtis in his recent “Halloween” trilogy, will helm the show’s first two episodes, with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Liz Sarnoff serving as showrunner, writer, and executive producer.  Blumhouse TV produces the series for Prime Video.
So what’s “Scarpetta” about? Kidman stars as the titular character, a medical examiner who returns to Virginia professionally and has to navigate several complicated old relationships, foremost of all with her sister (played by Curtis).  Here’s an official synopsis for the series:
The mystery thriller, based on the hit book series, follows Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), the Chief Medical Examiner, as she returns to Virginia and resumes her former position with complex relationships, both personal and professional – including her sister Dorothy (Curtis), with plenty of grudges and secrets to uncover.
Kidman will executive produce “Scarpetta” through her Blossom Films banner with Per Saari. Curtis does the same through Comet Pictures. Other executive producers include Cornwell through P & S Projects and Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie, Chris McCumber through Blumhouse TV. Green and Amy Sayres will also executive produce the series. “Scarpetta” is a Blumhouse TV and Amazon MGM Studios co-production in association with Blossom Films and Comet Pictures.
“I have wanted to bring Patricia Cornwell’s “Kay Scarpetta” to a screen, with my company, Comet Pictures, for a while,” Curtis said in a press statement. “I’m particularly excited that Nicole Kidman will finally bring her to life. I’m also looking forward to playing Nicole’s sister as we tell the story with Liz Sarnoff’s expert care, leadership, skill, and talent, and I am excited to work again with David as our director. I know the ardent fans of the books will be very happy, and the new audience will be compelled by the characters, crimes, and mysteries that are the trifecta of Patricia’s masterful storytelling. Blumhouse, Blossom, and Prime Video are the perfect partners to bring “Scarpetta” to you, and a warning……..there WILL be BLOOD.”
Kidman had a press statement of her own: “I’ve been pursuing “Scarpetta” for nearly twenty years going back to when it was intended to be a feature, so to unite with the formidable Jamie Lee Curtis, Prime Video, Jason Blum, and David Gordon Green on the Liz Sarnoff series version of Patricia Cornwell’s epic and thrilling books feels like it was meant to be. I cannot wait to inhabit Kay Scarpetta and am so thankful to Patricia Cornwell for entrusting me with her.”
Don’t expect “Scarpetta” to premiere on Prime Video until late 2025 at the earliest. In the meantime, check out Kidman in the latest season of “Lioness“ and Curtis in “The Last Showgirl.”