Angelina Jolie is in line to play Dr Kay Scarpetta in a film adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's mega-bestselling books, after Fox 2000 announced that they are seeking the rights to the series.
There have been attempts before to adapt the books - Columbia held the rights for some time, and at one point Demi Moore met with the author to discuss the character - but this time things look to be moving fast.
The 16 Scarpetta novels that Cornwell has written focus on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, who tends to solve crimes almost single-handedly thanks to trace evidence on victims' bodies, but also (in the grand old tradition of fictional MEs) heads out to interrogate suspects and investigate murder scenes as well, just so it doesn't all depend on white coat suspense.
If this goes ahead, the hope is that it will become a franchise, but the plan initially is not to adhere too closely to any specific book but to take a Bourne style approach and adapt rather loosely, ending up with something that (they hope) will be in the vein of a Silence of the Lambs or Seven.
First up, however, Jolie's still got to finish work on Salt, voice her character in Kung Fu Panda 2 and possibly return for the **Wanted **sequel. Also, raise six kids. She and the producers are meeting writers shortly, however, so keep eyes peeled for more on this as it happens.