Prime Video is starting again.
The Amazon-owned streamer has the green light Scarpea crime drama based on author Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling novel series about Virginia medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. The series, which has been in the works for over a year, has been given a two-season order by Prime Video; Nicole Kidman will play the title character and star alongside Jamie Lee Curtis. Kidman and Curtis will also serve as executive producers.
In addition to Kidman and Curtis, the show has lined up an A-list cast including Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, Ariana DeBose, Rosy McEwen and Jake Cannavale.
Blumhouse Television, which acquired the rights to Cornwell’s novels with Curtis in 2021, is producing the series along with Amazon MGM Studios, Kidman’s Blossom Films and Curtis’ Comet Pictures. Liz Sarnoff (Barry, Lost, Deadwood) is adapting the novels and will serve as showrunner. David Gordon Green – who has directed Curtis for the past three years Halloween Films – will direct the first two episodes.
“I wanted Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta “I am especially excited that Nicole Kidman will finally bring her to life. I am also looking forward to playing Nicole’s sister as we tell the story with Liz Sarnoff’s expert care, guidance, skill and talent, and I look forward to working with David again as our director. I know the passionate fans of the books will be very happy, and new audiences will be captivated 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 Scarpe to you and a warning… there WILL be blood.”
Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, added: “Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta has delighted fans for decades and I am honored that Prime Video has been entrusted to bring the series to the screen for our global customers. An 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 first-class team at Blumhouse.”
Kidman’s Kay Scarpetta is a chief medical examiner who returns to her former position in Virginia and must deal with both gruesome cases and complicated relationships in her professional and personal life. Curtis, who just won an Emmy for her guest role in The bearwill play Kay’s sister Dorothy. Cannavale – who will play alongside Kidman in Hulu’s Nine perfect strangers — plays Detective Pete Marino. Baker (The Mentalist) will play FBI profiler Benton Wesley. Oscar winner DeBose (West Side Story, Wish) plays Lucy Farinelli-Watson, Dorothy’s daughter. McEwen and Jake Cannavale play younger versions of Kay and Pete.
“I’m beyond excited that it’s finally starting,” said Cornwell. “It’s going to be a blast for everyone and I’m grateful for the amount of talent the show is attracting. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Nicole Kidman. That they want to do this is humbling and amazing. Working with the brilliant Liz Sarnoff is incredible. Blumhouse and Prime Video are a dream. It’s been worth the wait and I’m so excited for the show.”
Kidman said: “I have Scarpe for nearly 20 years, back when it was planned as a feature film, so it feels like fate to be working with the amazing 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. I can’t wait to slip into the shoes of Kay Scarpetta and am so grateful to Patricia Cornwell for entrusting her to me.”
Showrunner Sarnoff added: “I have Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpe “I read these books with my mom when they came out in the ’90s. We loved having a badass female ‘boss’ heroine to root for and were amazed by the precision, complexity and sheer addictiveness of Patricia’s storytelling. I couldn’t be more grateful and excited to bring these stories to life on screen.”
Sarnoff, Kidman, Curtis and Cornwell produce as executive producers Scarpe with Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie and Chris McCumber of Blumhouse TV, Per Saari of Blossom Films and Green and Amy Sayres.
Scarpe is one of numerous Prime Video series based on bestselling novels and joins the ranks of series such as Gripperthe upcoming CrossThe Bosch Franchise, Jack Ryan And The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
