Friday, June 26, 2009

Angelina Jolie as Dr Kay Scarpetta?

It seems Hollywood gossip and book news go hand in hand this week! Here's one more for you...

Angelina Jolie, Fox 2000 and author Patricia Cornwell are teaming up for a killer deal.



The studio is acquiring screen rights to Cornwell’s bestselling book series on medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, to develop as a vehicle for Jolie. There are 16 Scarpetta novels, meaning a franchise is hoped for, but this film won’t be tied to a specific Cornwell mystery title.

Much the way that Jason Bourne morphed into an action hero in plots not rigidly locked into the Robert Ludlum book series, the opera-loving coroner Scarpetta will be the lead in a suspense thriller in the vein of “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Seven.”

The deal is a mega-marriage, with Jolie one of the most bankable female movie stars, and Cornwell one of the biggest selling female authors in the world.

Cornwell, whose latest installment “Scarpetta” was published last December by Putnam, last year made a deal with Lifetime Television to adapt two non-Scarpetta novels, “At Risk” and “The Front.”

– from Variety


I'll admit here and now to never having read a Patricia Cornwell novel, they just aren't my cup of tea, but my mum loves them and tells me she is horrified at Ms Jolie's as Kay Scarpetta. Apparently it's "unfathomable" to her how Angelina can match up with the fictional character.

Are there any Scarpetta fans lurking out there? If so, what do you think of this casting decision?


5 comments:

The Mind of a Mother said...

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

So wrong, Jodie Foster a better choice

Jayne said...

I read some Patricia Cornwell novels years ago and have to say that I wouldn't have picked Angelina Jolie to play Scarpetta - I imagined someone a bit older, a bit blonder, a bit less glamazonian...a bit more "real", though I guess that's what wardrobe and make-up are for. Makes me think that the studios assume theres's no place for a woman leading a a movie franchise unless she's also hot.

Jayne said...

Yes, I second Jodie Foster.

Heather said...

Nooooooooooo, she totally CANNOT be cast in this role!

I think Kay has to be a little older. When I read the books I picture her like a suave version of Natasha Richardson (pity she died).

Caffeinated Weka said...

I've never read a Patricia Cornwall novel either (how is that possible??) but can categorically say I'm not an Angelina Jolie fan so I vote 'no' on principle. ;-)