Jamie Lee Curtis to Star in ‘Murder, She Wrote’ Movie, Set for December 2027 Release
Jamie Lee Curtis is set to lead Universal Pictures’ Murder, She Wrote film as Jessica Fletcher, with the studio scheduling a December 22, 2027, theatrical release.
The casting places Curtis at the center of a character long defined by precision, restraint, and observational intelligence. Fletcher remains one of television’s most recognizable figures in the mystery genre, built around quiet deduction rather than action-driven storytelling.
Universal has attached Jason Moore to direct, with a screenplay by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo. The film is produced by Amy Pascal alongside Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The studio has not disclosed story details.
The original Murder, She Wrote series aired on CBS from 1984 to 1996 and followed Fletcher, a retired teacher turned author who frequently became involved in murder investigations. The role was originally portrayed by Angela Lansbury. Set largely in the fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine, the show relied on dialogue, character dynamics, and incremental clues to resolve each case, helping define a format that would later shape network crime dramas.
Translating that format into a feature-length film presents a structural shift. Television episodes were built around self-contained mysteries that reset each week, while a theatrical version must sustain a single storyline with higher stakes and broader scope. Maintaining the character-driven nature of Fletcher while expanding the scale of the mystery will likely define how closely the film aligns with the tone of the original.
The project also continues Universal’s use of established intellectual property with recognizable leads. In this case, the casting itself carries much of the film’s identity, emphasizing performance and character continuity rather than franchise-driven spectacle.
The film is set to open during the final stretch before Christmas, one of the busiest periods at the box office. It will debut alongside Sony Pictures Animation’s Buds and just days before a new romantic comedy from Nancy Meyers, following a weekend that includes major franchise releases scheduled for December 17.
Universal has not announced additional details about the film’s plot or production timeline.
