Prime Video officially orders two seasons of “Scarpetta”

Prime Video has officially released two seasons of Scarpe starring and executive producing Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, as Deadline predicted early last year when we exclusively announced that the project based on Patricia Cornwell's bestselling Kay Scarpetta book series was in development.

The mystery thriller also has five new regulars in the series: Oscar winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (Ezra), Emmy-nominated Simon Baker (breath), Rosy McEwen (Blue jeans) and Jake Cannavale (The offer).

Scarpe follows Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), chief medical examiner, as she returns to Virginia and resumes her former position, dealing with complex relationships both personal and professional – including her sister Dorothy (Curtis), with whom there are plenty of resentments and secrets to uncover.

DeBose plays Lucy Farinelli-Watson, Dorothy's daughter; Bobby Cannavale plays former detective Pete Marino; Baker steps in as FBI profiler Benton Wesley; McEwen steps in as former Kay Scarpetta, and Jake Cannavale plays former Pete Marino.

“I am beyond excited that it is finally starting. It is going to be a blast for everyone and I am grateful for the immense talent that the show attracts. I have always been a huge fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Nicole Kidman. That they want to do this is humbling and just amazing. Working with the brilliant Liz Sarnoff is incredible. Blumhouse and Prime Video are a dream. It was worth the wait and I am so excited for the show,” Cornwell shared.

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

Kidman will executive produce for Blossom Films and Curtis will executive produce for Comet Pictures. Cornwell will executive produce for P&S Projects, along with Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie and Chris McCumber for Blumhouse Television and Per Saari for Blossom Films. David Gordon Green and Amy Sayres also serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Blumhouse Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with Blossom Films and Comet Pictures.

“I have wanted to bring Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta to the screen for some time with my company Comet Pictures. I am especially excited that Nicole Kidman is finally bringing 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,” said Curtis.

“I know diehard fans of the books will be very happy, and new audiences will be captivated by the characters, crimes and mysteries that make up the trifecta of Patricia's masterful storytelling. Blumhouse, Blossom and Prime Video are the perfect partners to bring you Scarpetta, and warning… there WILL be BLOOD,” she added.

“I have been following Scarpetta for nearly twenty years, since 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 adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's epic and thrilling books. I can't wait to portray Kay Scarpetta and am so grateful to Patricia Cornwell for entrusting her to me,” said Kidman.

Liz Sarnoff is repped by UTA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, LLP; Jaime Lee Curtis is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Patricia Cornwell is repped by CAA; Nicole Kidman is repped by CAA, Media Talent Group and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Bobby Cannavale is repped by CAA and Framework Entertainment; Simon Baker is repped by CAA, United Management (Australia) and Hamilton Hodell (UK); Ariana DeBose is repped by CAA, AC Management and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Rosy McEwen is repped by Curtis Brown Group, CAA and Goodman Genow Schenkman; Jake Cannavale is repped by Buchwald, Framework Entertainment and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams.