Amazon Greenlights Kay Scarpetta Series Starring Nicole Kidman & Jamie Lee Curtis,  Adds Five Cast Members

As a movie reviewer with a penchant for gripping mystery-thrillers and a soft spot for strong female leads, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the announcement of “Scarpetta,” the Amazon Prime Video series adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta novels. With the formidable Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis taking on the lead roles, this series promises to be a riveting exploration of Kay’s complex personal and professional relationships, as well as her knack for uncovering grudges and secrets.


As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the Kay Scarpetta novels by Patricia Cornwell are being brought to life on Amazon Prime Video as a series! The talented Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis have been cast in the lead roles, making this adaptation an exciting prospect for fans like me.

In February 2023, it was announced that a series called “Scarpetta” was being developed. Now, Amazon has given the go-ahead for two seasons of this series and added five new cast members to the lineup. As previously mentioned, Liz Sarnoff will take on the roles of writer, executive producer, and showrunner. This series is produced by Blumhouse Television and Amazon MGM Studios.

Ariana DeBose (from “West Side Story” and “The Prom”), Bobby Cannavale (known for “Ezra” and “The Irishman”), Simon Baker (recognized in “Breath” and “Boy Swallows Universe”), Rosy McEwen (“Blue Jean”) and Jake Cannavale (“The Offer,” “American Sports Story”) will be joining Kidman and Curtis on the cast.

For years, Patricia Cornwell’s character Kay Scarpetta has captivated audiences, and I am privileged that Prime Video is chosen to adapt this series for our worldwide viewers,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios. “An exceptional team has been gathered for the production, with Liz Sarnoff leading the way with a remarkable vision; renowned actress Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, and an outstanding cast; and the highly skilled team at Blumhouse.

The official logline for the mystery-thriller series states that it “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.”

Curtis expressed his long-held dream of adapting Kay Scarpetta from Patricia Cornwell’s novels for the screen through Comet Pictures. He’s thrilled about Nicole Kidman taking on the role, and he anticipates that she will breathe life into the character. Moreover, he’s eager to collaborate with Liz Sarnoff, who will guide the project with her exceptional abilities, leadership, and talent. David is set to direct again. Curtis believes the devoted readers of the books will be pleased, and the new audience will find the characters, crimes, and mysteries captivating – key elements of Patricia’s brilliant storytelling. Blumhouse, Blossom, and Prime Video are ideal partners for bringing Scarpetta to you. A note of caution: expect intense drama as there WILL be scenes involving violence.

Bobby Cannavale is set to portray the role of ex-detective Pete Marino. The character of FBI profiler Benton Wesley will be brought to life by Baker. McEwen will take on the part of younger Kay Scarpetta in the past. DeBose has been cast as Lucy Farinelli-Watson, who is Dorothy’s daughter. Jake Cannavale will make an appearance as young Pete Marino from the past.

Cornwell expressed immense joy that the project is finally underway. It promises to be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, and he’s impressed by the exceptional talent the production has attracted. He’s long admired Jamie Lee Curtis and Nicole Kidman, and their involvement in this project is both humbling and thrilling. Collaborating with the talented Liz Sarnoff is a privilege. Working with Blumhouse and Prime Video is a dream come true. The wait has been worth it, and he can hardly contain his anticipation for the show.

Cornwell is managed by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

For almost twenty years, I’ve been chasing the ‘Scarpetta’ project since its initial conception as a movie. Now, being part of the Liz Sarnoff series adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s gripping novels alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Prime Video, Jason Blum, and David Gordon Green feels like destiny. I’m eager to step into Kay Scarpetta’s shoes and am deeply grateful to Patricia Cornwell for giving me this opportunity.

In this project, Kidman will take on an executive producer role for Blossom Films, while Curtis will do the same for Comet Pictures. As previously stated, Sarnoff will handle writing, executive producing, and serving as showrunner. Cornwell will executive produce alongside Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie, and Chris McCumber from Blumhouse Television, Per Saari from Blossom Films, and additionally, P & S Projects. David Gordon Green and Amy Sayres are also on board as executive producers, with Green set to direct the initial two episodes. The series is jointly produced by Blumhouse Television, Amazon MGM Studios, Blossom Films, and Comet Pictures.

Sarnoff mentioned that they read Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta series with their mother when it was first published in the ’90s. They enjoyed having a strong female protagonist and were impressed by the intricacy, depth, and captivating nature of Cornwell’s storytelling. Sarnoff expressed their gratitude and excitement to be adapting these stories for the screen.

Jason Blum expressed his excitement about adapting Patricia Cornwell’s popular Kay Scarpetta series for television screens globally, stating that the talented cast assembled is a dream team. He added, ‘Patricia, Liz, Nicole, Jamie Lee, and David all have a deep affection for this character and the show, and we appreciate Prime Video’s backing of our creative vision.’

I’ve been captivated by the riveting Kay Scarpetta series for quite some time now, and it’s grown to a staggering 27 novels! The journey began with the gripping “Postmortem,” first published way back in 1990. Recently, the latest addition to this intriguing collection, titled “Unnatural Death,” made its entrance in the literary world in 2023.

This Amazon series, too, is an adaptation from a series of novels. Currently streaming are: “Reacher,” starring Alan Ritchson, inspired by Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels; “Bosch: Legacy,” derived from Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch books; “The Wheel of Time,” brought to life from Robert Jordan’s book series of the same title; “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” based on Jenny Han’s novel trilogy with the same name; and upcoming productions like “Cross,” which is based on James Patterson’s Alex Cross books and Renee Ballard series, both stemming from Connelly’s book series.

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2024-09-18 21:17