Prime Video Sets Scarpetta with Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis

Prime Video has ordered two seasons of Scarpetta, an adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s book series of the same name, with Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies, Expats) and Jamie Lee Curtis (The Bear, Everything Everywhere All at Once) attached to star.

Produced by Blumhouse Television, the mystery thriller series will follow chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta as she returns to Virginia and resumes her former position amid complex personal and professional relationships, including with her sister, where grudges fester and secrets abound. Kidman will star as Kay, and Curtis will play her sister, Dorothy.

Other members of the cast are Bobby Cannavale (Ezra, The Irishman), Simon Baker (Breath, Boy Swallows Universe), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story, The Prom), Rosy McEwen (Blue Jean) and Jake Cannavale (The Offer, Mandalorian, American Sports Story).

Liz Sarnoff (Barry, Lost, Deadwood) will write, executive produce and showrun Scarpetta. David Gordon Green (Halloween, Stronger) is set to direct the first two episodes.

In addition to starring, Kidman and Curtis will also executive produce—Kidman for Blossom Films and Curtis for Comet Pictures. Other executive producers are Sarnoff; Cornwell for P & S Projects; Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie and Chris McCumber for Blumhouse Television; Per Saari for Blossom Films; David Gordon Green; and Amy Sayres.

Scarpetta is being produced by Blumhouse Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with Blossom Films and Comet Pictures.

“Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta has enraptured fans for decades, and I am honored that Prime Video is entrusted to bring the series to screen for our global customers,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. “The most exemplary group has been assembled for the series, with Liz Sarnoff at the helm with an extraordinary vision; the immensely talented Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis and the fantastic cast; and the top-notch team at Blumhouse.”

“I’m beyond excited that this is finally happening,” author Cornwell said. “This will be great fun for all, and I’m grateful for the immense talent that the show is drawing. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Nicole Kidman. Their wanting to do this is humbling and simply awesome. Working with the brilliant Liz Sarnoff is amazing. Blumhouse and Prime Video are a dream. This has been worth waiting for, and I’m so looking forward to the show.”

Curtis commented, “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.”

Kidman added, “I’ve been pursuing Scarpetta for nearly 20 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.”

“I read Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta books with my mother when they came out in the ’90s,” Sarnoff said. “We loved having a badass female ‘boss’ heroine to root for and were amazed by the specificity, complexity and sheer addictiveness of Patricia’s storytelling. I could not be more grateful and excited to be bringing these stories to life on the screen.”

“Patricia Cornwell’s best-selling Kay Scarpetta series is beloved by millions, and we’re proud to finally bring this iconic character to screens around the world with this dream team,” added Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse. “Liz, Nicole, Jamie Lee, Patricia and David all share a passion for this show and this character, and we’re grateful to our partners at Prime Video for supporting the vision.”