Scarpetta Sets Its Premiere Date — Nicole Kidman Trades Glam for Grit in Long-Awaited Thriller

Scarpetta finally has a premiere date and the beloved literary sleuth is ready to cut into Amazon Prime Video’s crime lineup like a scalpel through a suspect’s alibi. The streamer has officially set March 11, 2026 as the day Dr. Kay Scarpetta steps out of Patricia Cornwell’s pages and onto screens worldwide. Yes, worldwide, Amazon clearly thinks they have a hit on their hands, and honestly, they might be right.

Nicole Kidman leads the series as the iconic medical examiner, and before you ask: no, this isn’t the glossy Nicole Kidman of prestige dramas and AMC theater commercials. This is Kidman with grit under her nails, a haunted history behind her eyes, and a body on the slab that refuses to stay politely in the past. The series tracks Scarpetta across two timelines, the late ’90s and the present day as she returns home to reopen a case that’s been festering for nearly three decades. Lighthearted stuff!

Joining her is an enviable cast that looks like someone raided an Oscars greenroom. Jamie Lee Curtis plays Scarpetta’s estranged sister Dorothy, and the sparks between them alone might require their own fire-safety permit. Bobby Cannavale steps in as Detective Pete Marino, gruff as ever; Simon Baker brings a brooding edge to FBI profiler Benton Wesley; and Ariana DeBose adds tech-savvy swagger as Lucy, Scarpetta’s fiercely loyal niece. In other words: expect drama, tension and the kind of workplace arguments that could power a small city.

The real intrigue, though, is how the series leans into Cornwell’s signature forensic detail. Showrunner Liz Sarnoff doesn’t appear to be sanitizing the science so viewers squeamish about morgue tables may want to invest in a comfort blanket. For everyone else? This could be the next great, smart, atmospheric crime thriller to sink into.

With its global rollout and prestige-meets-pulpy pitch, Scarpetta feels like the rare adaptation that might actually stick the landing. So go ahead and carve March 11 into your calendar. Dr. Kay Scarpetta is finally reporting for duty and she’s not here to play nice.