The first official trailer for Scarpetta, the upcoming crime thriller series starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, is finally out. After nearly two decades of development and multiple attempts to bring the famous forensic pathologist to the screen, Amazon Prime Video has released a full look at what audiences can expect when the show launches worldwide on March 11, 2026.
Based on Patricia Cornwell’s blockbuster book series that has sold more than 120 million copies globally since 1990, the show places Nicole Kidman in the role of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a chief medical examiner with a sharp mind and a complicated past. The two-and-a-half-minute trailer introduces a world of old wounds, fresh bodies, and the heavy weight of a 28-year-old case that refuses to stay buried. Viewers get their first real look at how the series jumps between the late 1990s and the present day, showing both the young Scarpetta finding her footing and the seasoned expert returning home to face unfinished business.
Two Time Periods Shape the Story of Dr. Kay Scarpetta
Scarpetta does not follow a straight line. The trailer makes it clear that the series moves back and forth between two distinct periods in the main character’s life. In the 1990s timeline, Rosy McEwen plays the younger version of Kay Scarpetta as she takes on the role of chief medical examiner for the first time. Viewers see her learning the trade, building her reputation, and handling the case that would define her career 28 years ago.
In the present timeline, Nicole Kidman takes over as the older, more experienced Scarpetta. She returns to her hometown in Virginia and reclaims her old position. But coming back is not simple. The trailer shows her walking through the same hallways, facing old colleagues who are not happy to see her, and dealing with a new murder investigation that connects directly to that original case from her early years.
The show uses this structure to show how the past never really goes away. The same job, the same building, and the same kinds of crimes pull Scarpetta back into a world she thought she had left behind. The trailer makes it clear that this case is not just about catching a killer. It is about whether Scarpetta can survive her own history.
Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis Play Sisters With a Strained Bond
Beyond the crime investigation, the trailer puts heavy focus on family. Jamie Lee Curtis plays Dorothy Farinelli, Scarpetta’s younger sister. The relationship between the two women looks tense from the very first frames they share. Dorothy does not seem happy about her sister’s return, and the trailer hints at old arguments and buried resentments.
In the flashback sequences, Amanda Righetti plays the younger version of Dorothy. Viewers get glimpses of how the sisters interacted decades ago, which helps explain why their present-day meetings feel so heavy with unspoken history. Jamie Lee Curtis brings a sharp, guarded energy to the role. She is not just the sister of the main character. She is a woman carrying her own wounds and frustrations.
This casting choice brings together two Academy Award winners who share very little screen time in the trailer, but every second they do share carries weight. Their scenes do not look like typical sibling arguments in crime dramas. They look like two people who understand each other completely and still cannot find common ground.
Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, and Ariana DeBose Round Out the Main Cast
Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis are not the only big names in this series. The trailer introduces Bobby Cannavale as Detective Pete Marino, a gruff police investigator who works alongside Scarpetta. Simon Baker, known for his long run on The Mentalist, plays Benton Wesley, an FBI profiler who gets pulled into the case. Ariana DeBose appears as Lucy Farinelli Watson, Scarpetta’s tech-savvy niece and Dorothy’s daughter.
The trailer also gives time to the younger versions of these characters. Jake Cannavale, who is Bobby Cannavale’s real-life son, plays young Pete Marino. Hunter Parrish takes on the role of young Benton Wesley. This casting choice helps the two timelines feel connected. Viewers can see the same faces at different ages, which makes the time jumps easier to follow.
Sosie Bacon, Janet Montgomery, Mike Vogel, and Anna Diop also appear in supporting roles, playing reporters, lawyers, and cyber investigators who surround Scarpetta as she digs deeper into the case.
Liz Sarnoff and Blumhouse Bring Patricia Cornwell’s Vision to Television
The series comes from Liz Sarnoff, who wrote and developed the show for streaming. Sarnoff previously worked on Barry and Lost, giving her experience with both dark comedy and complex, layered storytelling. Here, she adapts a character that has existed in print for more than 35 years.
David Gordon Green directed five episodes of the series and also serves as an executive producer. Green is known for switching between very different kinds of projects, from drama to horror to comedy. His involvement suggests that Scarpetta will carry a strong visual style and a consistent tone across episodes.
The production side is crowded with heavy hitters. Nicole Kidman produces through her company Blossom Films. Jamie Lee Curtis produces through Comet Pictures. Patricia Cornwell herself is an executive producer through P & S Projects. Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Television team are also on board, alongside Amazon MGM Studios. This level of producer involvement usually means the show has been shaped and reshaped many times before reaching the screen.
Streaming Release Details for USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and Global Audiences
Scarpetta will be available for streaming exclusively on Prime Video starting March 11, 2026. The release is global, meaning viewers in more than 240 countries and territories can watch the series on the same day.
- United States: Available March 11 on Prime Video
- United Kingdom: Available March 11 on Prime Video
- Canada: Available March 11 on Prime Video
- Australia: Available March 11 on Prime Video
- India: Available March 11 on Prime Video
The show will drop all episodes at once. Amazon has not yet confirmed the exact number of episodes in the first season, but previous reports from December 2025 indicated that the streaming service ordered the show with a two-season commitment from the start . This means the creative team has already planned beyond the first batch of episodes.
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Fan Reactions to the Trailer Highlight the Casting and Atmosphere
Since the trailer landed on Prime Video’s YouTube channel and social media pages on February 11, 2026, viewers have been quick to share their thoughts. Many comments focus on the pairing of Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis as sisters.
“Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis as the Scarpetta sisters is the casting I didn’t know I needed until this second. The tension in that kitchen scene alone? Absolute cinema. Prime Video is really coming for that ‘Prestige Thriller’ crown.”
— Viewer comment on the official trailer
Others pointed out the visual style and the way the two timelines are woven together. The trailer does not rely on constant action. Instead, it lets silence, stares, and slow movement carry the tension. This approach matches the tone of Cornwell’s books, which focus more on procedure and psychology than on car chases and shootouts.
For more updates on crime dramas, book adaptations, and streaming releases, stay with VvipTimes. This is just the first look at a series that has already secured its place as one of the most talked-about shows heading into spring 2026.
