According to Prime Video, an adaptation of author Patricia Cornwell’s (Postmortem, The Body Farm) novel Scarpetta is in the works with Blumhouse Television. Starring will include a cast decorated with Oscar and Emmy wins and nominations, including Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Nicole Kidman (Expats, Big Little Lies).
Kidman will star as protagonist Kay Scarpetta who is a chief medical examiner returning to her Virginia roots, according to the Prime Video press release. As Scarpetta returns, she must deal with complex personal and professional relationships. Once such relationship is with her sister Dorothy, played by Curtis, who is shrouded in secrets and grudges.
Also joining the cast is Simon Baker as Benton Wesley (Boy Swallows Universe, Breath), Bobby Cannavale (The Irishman, Ezra) as Pete Marino, Ariana DeBose (The Prom, West Side Story) as Lucy Farinelli-Watson, Jake Cannavale (American Sports Story, The Offer) as Past Pete Marino and Rosy McEwen (The Alienist, Blue Jean) as Past Kay Scarpetta, as per the Prime Video press release.
Kidman commented on her involvement in the project, saying, “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” via the press release.
Curtis additionally commented on the series, saying, “I have wanted to bring Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta to a screen, with my company, Comet Pictures, for a while. 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” per the press release.
Scarpetta will be executive produced by Kidman, Curtis and Liza Sarnoff (Deadwood, Barry). Sarnoff is also a writer for the series and will be its showrunner, according to Prime Video. The first two episodes will be directed by David Gordon Green (Stronger, Halloween).
While the series is in its early phases of production, Prime Video has ordered two seasons of Scarpetta. When the series premieres, it will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video.