Angelina Jolie
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Although there are 16 Scarpetta novels, this film won't focus on a specific Cornwell title, Variety reports. Cornwell's latest novel, simply titled Scarpetta, was published in December.
In the novels, Kay Scarpetta, the beautiful, tough-as-nails forensic examiner, has a messy love life and a penchant for opera and Italian cooking. Before relocating to Massachusetts she was the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia.
Jolie has played several hard-edged characters in films such as Wanted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Gone in Sixty Seconds. If everything pans out, Scarpetta will be her second franchise, after the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider series.
Jolie's rep tells PEOPLE a deal is not confirmed.
– Steve Helling
