Scarpetta is a Prime Video thriller worth a weekend binge

Nicole Kidman stars as Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a chief medical examiner who returns to Virginia with her husband, Benton Wesley (Simon Baker). The series, which premiered March 11, 2026 on Prime Video, also features Jamie Lee Curtis as Scarpetta’s bold sister Dorothy and Ariana DeBose as Dorothy’s daughter Lucy.

Kidman and Curtis bring strong, engaging performances to the central roles. Scarpetta moves between the present and 1998, with Rosy McEwen portraying the younger Scarpetta as she pursues a string of disturbing murders. A recent killing suggests an older case was never fully resolved, and the show does not shy away from heavy moments and graphic imagery.

Alongside the procedural elements, the series explores family tensions, memories, and the burdens of ambition. Prime Video has renewed Scarpetta for a second season, so viewers can expect more of Kidman’s work as the story continues.

scarpetta, nicole kidman, prime video, jamie lee, ariana debose, simon baker, rosy mcewen, virginia, medical examiner, thriller series