After writing nearly 30 novels, Kay Scarpetta is about to make the leap from Patricia Cornwell’s books to the small screen. Prime Video has officially greenlit a TV series based on the famous fictional chief medical examiner, and they’re not ordering any of it; two The season begins.
The buzz surrounding the Scarpetta collection first spiked in 2023, when deadline Reports began that Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis were interested in developing the project. However, it wasn’t until September of this year that the rumors became reality, with Kidman, Curtis, and several other co-stars announcing in the process.
If you’re a long-time Scarpetta fan like me (thanks to my mom for the introduction), read on to learn everything we know so far about the book being adapted.
Who is Kay Scarpetta?
Cornwell first introduced Scarpetta to fans in 1990, when her mystery novel post mortem. In it, fans learned that Scarpetta lives in Richmond and serves as the chief medical examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The petite blonde is a smart workaholic with a perfectionist streak and a love of cooking (especially dishes inspired by her Italian roots).
Cornwell credits the inspiration for the character to now-retired real-life Virginia chief medical examiner Marcella Farinelli Fierro, M.D.
What will the Scarpetta TV series be about?
As Cornwell fans will remember, Scarpetta resigned as chief medical examiner following the events of the 2000s last jurisdiction. She worked for a time as a private forensic consultant before becoming president of the National College of Forensic Medicine in Hollywood, Florida (founded by her niece Lucy). Scarpetta also spent time in Charleston and Massachusetts.
But according to the show’s synopsis, the show will follow Scarpetta’s return to Virginia and her predecessor as chief medical examiner. The mystery thriller will focus on her “complicated personal and professional relationships – including with her sister Dorothy – with plenty of scores and secrets to uncover.”
Who will play Scarpetta?
You might say the show has a star-studded cast. The lead role will be played by Nicole Kidman, who is clearly a long-time fan of Cornwell’s character. “I’ve been pursuing Scarpetta for nearly 20 years, and I worked with the formidable Jamie Lee Curtis, Prime Video, Jason Jason Blum and David Gordon Green teaming up to create a Liz Sarnoff-series version of Scarpetta felt like it was meant to be,” Kidman said. said in a press release. “I can’t wait to live in Kay Scarpetta and am so grateful to Patricia Cornwell for entrusting her to me.”
The aforementioned Jamie Lee Curtis will executive produce and star alongside Kidman, and he’s excited to step into the shoes of Scarpetta’s sister Dorothy. “I know avid fans of these books will be delighted, and new readers will be captivated by the characters, crime, and mystery in Patricia’s masterful storytelling,” Curtis added, “And a word of warning… …There will be blood.
Five other series regulars have also been announced: Ariana DeBose (west side story) will play Scarpetta’s niece Lucy; Bobby Cannavale (watchman) will play former detective Pete Marino; Simon Baker (spiritualist) will play FBI profiler and Scarpetta’s lover Benton Wesley; Rosie McEwan (blue jeans) will play the young Scarpetta; and Bobby Cannavale’s real-life son Jack (discount) will play young Pete Marino.
Is there a release date for the Scarpetta collection?
Now that the series has been officially ordered, we have entered the “Hurry and wait” stage. While it’s still too early to confirm a release date, it seems like everyone involved in the production is just as eager as fans for this to happen. *Hopefully* this means it will drop sometime in early 2025.
