Prime Video's adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta novels will premiere on March 11, 2026, starring Nicole Kidman as forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta. The series has received a two-season order and features a cast including Jamie Lee Curtis and Bobby Cannavale. A trailer and first-look images have been released, highlighting the show's dual-timeline crime thriller narrative.
The series Scarpetta brings Patricia Cornwell's literary forensic pathologist to the screen for the first time. Nicole Kidman leads as Dr. Kay Scarpetta, with the production already greenlit for two seasons on Prime Video.
According to the official logline, Scarpetta is 'a chilling crime thriller that unfolds across two timelines. The dual narrative explores Kay Scarpetta’s journey from her beginnings as a chief medical examiner in the late ’90s to her present-day return to her hometown, where she resumes her former position while investigating a grisly murder. As Scarpetta pursues justice, she must navigate complicated relationships, including the fraught dynamic with her sister Dorothy Farinelli, confront long-held professional and personal grudges, and face secrets that threaten to unravel everything she’s built.'
The streamer describes the title character further: 'With skilled hands and an unnerving eye, this unrelenting medical examiner is determined to serve as the voice of the victims, unmask a serial killer, and prove that her career-making case from 28 years prior isn’t also her undoing. Set against the backdrop of modern forensic investigation, the series delves beyond the crime scene to explore the psychological complexities of both perpetrators and investigators, creating a multi-layered thriller that examines the toll of pursuing justice at all costs.'
Joining Kidman are Jamie Lee Curtis as Scarpetta’s sister Dorothy Farinelli, Bobby Cannavale as Detective Pete Marino, Simon Baker as FBI profiler Benton Wesley, and Ariana DeBose as Kay’s niece Lucy Watson. Preview images also feature Rosy McEwen, Amanda Righetti, Jake Cannavale, and Hunter Parrish.
A trailer has been released, showing Scarpetta getting a second chance at her job and tackling a new case with connections to her past. The series emphasizes forensic details and personal stakes in the pursuit of justice.
