If you’re a fan of Patricia Cornwell, you must know Kay Scarpetta.
Cornwell’s work with this character had such an impact on my life that I can remember exactly where I was when I read certain novels.
But I can’t lie. The last person I would want to play Kay is Nicole Kidman.
As a result, the show has signed a two-season deal with Prime Video. Killmon will play Kay, and Jamie Lee Curtis will play her sister Dorothy.
The series also adds five additional cast members, including Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Emmy Award winner Bobby Cannavale, Emmy Award nominee Simon Baker, Rosie McEwan and Jack Cannavale.
But when it comes to Kidman, I’ve been complaining a lot lately. She’s become the go-to woman for the limited series, and she’s been overused to the point of distraction.
Usually, she plays a rich woman with a certain attitude. Her character doesn’t vary much from series to series, and sometimes it feels like if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.
So Scarpetta could be a way to break out of her on-screen slump.
We’ve discussed the new problem of television relying on stars rather than producing stars, as Kidman’s television dominance shows.
Combat, hands-on, and extremely smart, Kay Scarpetta is a savvy investigator. She is nuanced and strong, but also compassionate.
Her appearance is described as that of a toned blonde. Frankly, I imagined her a bit like Jodie Foster.
Jamie Lee Curtis’s Dorothy is a perfect fit for Foster, but not so much with Kidman.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love a lot of Kidman’s work. But we run into a problem when a face becomes too familiar and appears on all the other new shows.
At some points, the show suffers because people connect the characters to the actors rather than letting the characters develop on their own.
In this case, a lesser-known actor could make a major impact by being Kay Scarpetta. Kidman has a lot of (albeit worthy) baggage on screen that will be part of Scarpetta’s legacy.
Here is the official diary of the series:
[Scarpetta] “Follow in the footsteps of Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), who returns to Virginia and resumes her old position but with complicated relationships, both personal and professional – including her sister Dora… Rosie (Curtis), there are plenty of scores and secrets to uncover.
It’s easy to understand why Kidman and Curtis wanted to bring the Scarpetta series to the screen. Brilliant and dynamic, Kay was a rare figure with a sound personal and professional life.
“I’ve always wanted to bring Patricia Cornwell’s Keith Scarpetta to the screen with my company, Comet Pictures,” Curtis said. “I’m super excited to finally bring Nicole Kidman back to life.
“I’m also looking forward to playing Nicole’s sister as we bring Liz Sarnoff’s professional care, leadership, skill and talent to tell this story, and I’m excited to be working with David again as our director.
“I know loyal fans of these books will be delighted, and new readers will be captivated by the trio of character, crime and mystery in Patricia’s masterful storytelling.
“Blumhouse, Blossom and Prime Video are the perfect partners to bring Scarpetta to you, with the warning… there will be blood.”
Curtis seems to know the story and characters very well. So why didn’t she love Scarpetta enough to give the character agency instead of making it a star vehicle?
If I wasn’t happy with the casting, Cornwell wasn’t. Scarpetta is definitely her legacy.
“I’m so excited that this is finally happening. It’s going to be great fun for everyone and I’m grateful for the tremendous talent this show has attracted. I’ve always been a fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Nicole Kidman Big fan of Man.
“It’s humbling and simply awesome that they want to do this. It’s been great to work with the talented Liz Sarnoff. Blumhouse and Prime Video are a dream. It’s been worth the wait and I’m very much looking forward to it.” drama,” Cornwell said.
Kidman also loved the role.
She said: “I’ve been pursuing Scarpetta for almost twenty years, long before it was intended to be a feature film, so… [it] It felt like it was meant to be. I can’t wait to play Kay Scarpetta and I’m so grateful to Patricia Cornwell for entrusting her to me.
So while I may be disappointed, many of you may be delighted.
To be honest, I will still watch it. I hope this series is faithful and adds unexpected layers to the books. I even hope it lasts for many seasons.
Cornwell, the fans and Scarpetta deserve it.
