Is anybody in Hollywood busier than Nicole Kidman? The queen of AMC has been feeding us non-stop since Big Little Lies season 2 ended in 2019. The Perfect Couple, A Family Affair, Nine Perfect Strangers, Babygirl — she never stops! Nicole’s latest role in Amazon Prime Video’s Scarpetta sets her opposite Jamie Lee Curtis for a mystery thriller adventure that might just rival Jamie’s Knives Out.

The story, about a medical examiner who returns to her hometown, and a rocky relationship with her sister, feels like Sullivan’s Crossing meets Big Little Lies, and I am so locked in. Even if you’ve never read the books before, this is going to be one show you won’t be able to stop watching.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about the new Kay Scarpetta TV show on Prime Video.

Is there a TV series based on Kay Scarpetta?

kay scarpetta postmortem | Amazon

Scarpetta Plot

Yes a TV show based on the Kay Scarpetta books is coming to Amazon! The crime series — which has been greenlit for two seasons — will follow Chief Medical Examiner Kay, played by Nicole Kidman (and reportedly inspired by CME Marcella Farinelli Fierro), who reenters her former position in her Virginia hometown. Not only is she navigating the ins and outs of her work life, but she’s also balancing relationships with her sister Dorothy, her coworkers, and all the secrets that come with them.

And apparently, the scripts in and of themselves stopped Nicole in her tracks! She tells Vanity Fair the project is “terrifying” because “it’s so well-written. It’s crazy how I’m frightened reading it. I haven’t done that. I can’t think of a film I’ve done where it was so terrifying. Like what? The Others wasn’t terrifying.”

Where can I watch the show?

watching tv and body doubling for productivity 2023 | Amazon

Scarpetta Release Date

Scarpetta will stream on Prime Video in the near future. We don’t have an official release date yet, so stay tuned!

Is Jamie Lee Curtis going to play Kay Scarpetta?

jamie lee curtis nicole kidman scarpetta | Amazon

Scarpetta Cast

Jamie Lee Curtis will play Kay Scarpetta’s sister Dorothy, while Nicole Kidman will play the role of Kay. The fact that the show is tentatively called Scarpetta makes me think the series will focus just as much on Dorothy — and their relationship — as it does on Kay. Ariana DeBose, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, Rosy McEwen, Jake Cannavale, and Bobby Cannavale have also been cast.

Nicole is super excited to work with Jamie, and told Vanity Fair that the experience has been “glorious” so far. “I was like, ‘I’ll do it with you, but you have to play my sister. You have to go with me.’ And she’s like, ‘Okay.’ So, we’re producing it together and we’re in it together—and that is glorious. That’s what I mean, where you go, ‘Okay. Who’s got the same amount of passion and enthusiasm?’ Look at her. I mean, she’s unbelievable. She is a force.”

What order do the Kay Scarpetta books go in?

Kay Scarpetta books | Amazon

There are 28 books in the Kay Scarpetta series so far.

Postmortem (1990)

Body of Evidence (1991)

All That Remains (1992)

Cruel and Unusual (1993)

The Body Farm (1994)

From Potter’s Field (1995)

Cause of Death (1996)

Unnatural Exposure (1997)

Point of Origin (1998)

Black Notice (1999)

The Last Precinct (2000)

Blow Fly (2003)

Trace (2004)

Predator (2005)

Book of the Dead (2007)

Scarpetta (2008)

The Scarpetta Factor (2009)

Port Mortuary (2010)

Red Mist (2011)

The Bone Bed (2012)

Dust (2013)

Flesh and Blood (2014)

Depraved Heart (2015)

Chaos (2016)

Autopsy (2021)

Livid (2022)

Unnatural Death (2023)

Identity Unknown (2024)

What is a Chief Medical Examiner?

chief medical examiner | Amazon

A medical examiner investigates unusual or suspicious deaths. They perform post-mortem exams, determine the cause of death, and work with the local police.