Prime Video fans can’t wait for crime show ‘hey’ve waited 20 years for | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

Numerous viewers relish discovering fresh television content, and Amazon Prime Video subscribers are particularly enthusiastic about finally accessing one gripping crime thriller that’s been two decades in development.

Scarpetta is a high-stakes crime thriller series being released on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday (March 11). Adapted from Patricia Cornwell’s best-selling novels, it features Nicole Kidman as the iconic forensic pathologist Dr Kay Scarpetta.

The series centres on Dr Kay Scarpetta, a brilliant and determined medical examiner who returns to her previous role in Virginia to investigate a horrific contemporary murder.

The narrative employs a distinctive structure spanning two timelines: Present day, where Scarpetta returns to her hometown to unravel a complicated murder potentially connected to a career-defining case from 28 years earlier and the late 1990s. In the latter, flashbacks examine her formative career as Virginia’s Chief Medical Examiner and how her professional partnerships began.

The programme is characterised as a multi-layered thriller examining the psychological burden of pursuing justice and the “unmasking” of a serial killer whilst navigating long-standing personal resentments. Beyond its compelling storyline, the series boasts an ensemble of acclaimed performers.

Alongside Kidman, the cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Farinelli – Kay’s unpredictable and complex elder sister, Ariana DeBose as Lucy Farinelli-Watson – Kay’s technologically skilled niece employed in cyber-forensics, and Simon Baker as Benton Wesley – an FBI profiler and Kay’s spouse.

The dual-timeline format also showcases younger portrayals of the central characters, with Rosy McEwen as young Kay and Jake Cannavale (Bobby’s son) as young Pete.

Nicole Kidman has disclosed that she has personally pursued the role of Kay Scarpetta for nearly two decades. She maintained her commitment to the character across 20 years, ultimately collaborating with Jamie Lee Curtis, whose production company, Comet Pictures, obtained the rights in 2021.

For author Patricia Cornwell, the anticipation has been considerably longer. She observed that 37 years elapsed from selling her debut Scarpetta novel, Postmortem, to witnessing the character finally reach screens.

Kidman initially expressed interest in the project during its development as a feature film rather than a television series.

Following Jamie Lee Curtis posting a trailer for the programme on TikTok, viewers confessed they ‘couldn’t wait’ to see it, with one declaring: “I’m so excited!”

Another added: “I can’t wait for this.”

Whilst a third added: “FINALLY! God I love this book series so much!”

Viewers will be delighted to discover they can binge watch all eight episodes of the programme in one go, with the entire series dropping on March 11.