If you’re a Patricia Cornwell fan, you know Kay Scarpetta.
Cornwell’s work with that character was so influential in my life that I can remember exactly where I was when reading certain novels.
But I can’t lie. The last person I wanted to play Kay was Nicole Kidman.
So, the deal is that the series has landed a two-season deal with Prime Video. Kidman will play Kay, and Jamie Lee Curtis will play her sister, Dorothy.
Five others have also been added to the series, including Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale, Emmy nominee Simon Baker, Rosy McEwen, and Jake Cannavale.
But when it comes to Kidman, I’ve been complaining a lot lately. She’s become THE go-to woman for limited series, and she’s overutilized to distraction.
Normally, she’s playing a wealthy woman with a certain attitude. Her roles don’t vary much from series to series, and it sometimes feels like if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.
So, Scarpetta could be a way to shake her out of her on-screen doldrums.
We’ve discussed the new problem of TV relying on stars rather than making them, and Kidman’s TV domination is indicative of that.
Kay Scarpetta is scrappy, gets her hands dirty, and is incredibly intelligent and a savvy investigator. She’s meticulous and tough, but she’s also compassionate.
Her appearance has been described as an athletically built blonde. Frankly, I imagined her somewhat like Jodie Foster.
Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy would have been an excellent fit with Foster, but not as much with Kidman.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a lot of Kidman’s work. But when a face becomes too familiar, popping up in every other new show, we’ve got a problem.
At some point, shows suffer because people associate a character with an actor rather than allowing a character to blossom on its own.
This is a case where a lesser-known actor could have made a significant impact by becoming Kay Scarpetta. Kidman comes with lots of on-screen (albeit worthwhile) baggage, and that will become part of Scarpetta’s legacy.
Here’s the official logline for the series:
[Scarpetta] “follows Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), the Chief Medical Examiner, as she returns to Virginia and resumes her former position with complex relationships, both personal and professional — including her sister Dorothy (Curtis), with plenty of grudges and secrets to uncover.”
It’s easy to understand why Kidman and Curtis want to bring the Scarpetta series to the screen. Kay is brilliant and full of life, a rare character with a robust personal and professional life.
“I have wanted to bring Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta to a screen with my company, Comet Pictures, for a while,” Curtis said. “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.”
Curtis seems to know the story and the character well. So why didn’t she love Scarpetta enough to give the character agency rather than allowing it to become a star vehicle?
If I’m not thrilled with the casting, Cornwell disagrees. And Scarpetta is most definitely her legacy.
“I’m beyond excited that this is finally happening. 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,” Cornwell said.
Kidman, too, has great love for the character.
She said, “I’ve been pursuing Scarpetta for nearly twenty years going back to when it was intended to be a feature, so … [it] 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,” Kidman said.
So, while I may disappointed, many of you are probably delighted.
Truthfully, I will still watch. I hope the series is faithful and adds unexpected levels to the books. I even hope it lasts many seasons.
Cornwell, the fans, and Scarpetta deserve that.
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