Jamie Lee Curtis is Jessica Fletcher: The Murder, She Wrote Reboot You Didn’t Expect
Last Updated on April 22, 2026
Jessica Fletcher is heading back to the big screen, and this time, she’ll be played by none other than Jamie Lee Curtis.
News of the Murder, She Wrote movie reboot has set both mystery fans and film buffs buzzing, as the Oscar-winning actress takes on one of television’s most beloved amateur sleuths.
Best known for her iconic roles in Halloween, Knives Out, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, Curtis seems a fitting choice to revive Jessica Fletcher for a new generation.
Her mix of sharp wit, warmth, and steel makes her a natural successor to Angela Lansbury, who made the role unforgettable across 12 seasons and 264 episodes.
While details about the plot remain under wraps, the idea of seeing Cabot Cove’s favorite crime writer on the big screen again is enough to make any cozy mystery fan excited.
The big question now is: will this modern take on Murder, She Wrote capture the charm and intrigue of the original?
Revisiting Murder, She Wrote
First airing in 1984, Murder, She Wrote quickly became a cornerstone of cozy crime TV.
We followed Jessica Fletcher, a successful mystery writer and amateur sleuth, as she solved a never-ending parade of murders in the most charmingly murderous town in Maine, Cabot Cove, and well beyond.
Over 12 seasons (and four TV movies), Angela Lansbury’s portrayal of Jessica set the gold standard for sharp, empathetic, and endlessly curious amateur detectives.
The show wasn’t just popular: it was a Sunday night mainstay, continuously drawing in new generations of fans, in large part due to Lansbury’s wit, warmth, and that twinkle-in-the-eye sense that she just knew what you were up to.
And while we’re talking about the original, I am currently re-watching the entire show, and let me tell you that it has more than stood the test of time.
I’ve watched so many episodes, I actually dreamt I met Angela Lansbury – peak fandom, I think you’ll agree!
Anyway, enough of my ramblings, what do we know about the upcoming movie??
Movie Reboot: Everything We Know So Far
After years of speculation, it was confirmed in July 2025 that Jamie Lee Curtis will take on Jessica Fletcher in a film reboot, produced by Universal Pictures and brought to life by producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Amy Pascal.
The script comes from Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Schuker Blum, a duo well-versed in character-rich stories.
Jamie Lee Curtis shared her excitement at the Los Angeles premiere of Freakier Friday.
She told Entertainment Tonight, “Oh, it’s… happening. We’re a minute away, but yeah, very excited. Very excited. But I’m tamping down my enthusiasm until we start shooting. I have a couple of other things to hustle, but then I’ll get to enjoy that work”.
Curtis has been the favorite for the role ever since Deadline first reported on her casting back in December 2024, and she’s since confirmed her involvement multiple times in interviews and on social media.
Plot details for the film remain tightly under wraps; no one has leaked any specifics yet, but fans can expect an updated take that honors the original while giving Jessica a new lease on screen life.
As of now, the movie hasn’t even started filming. Given that it will likely happen in 2026, it will probably be 2027 before it sees the light of day.
I could be wrong, but movies go at their own pace, and there’s no word yet on whether it will hit the theatres or be snapped up by one of the streamers.
When I know more, you’ll know more!
Why Jamie Lee Curtis is Perfect for Jessica Fletcher
As fans, we hold Angela Lansbury’s Jessica close to our hearts, so the idea of anyone else stepping in can feel daunting.
But Jamie Lee Curtis brings her own set of superpowers to the role. From Knives Out’s deliciously twisty ensemble to playing sharp, sensible, and (let’s face it) secret-sleuthy women, Curtis has long shown she can command a whodunnit.
If anyone can do justice to the warmth, empathy, and wise-on-the-world edge that defined Jessica Fletcher, it’s Curtis, who balances intelligence and approachability in all her roles.
And, unsurprisingly, Curtis and Lansbury share a legacy of making genre-defining women not only relatable but also inspirational.
Curtis has cited Lansbury as a personal hero and has promised to “honour her memory and the millions who loved her.”
With her Oscar, her genre past, and her multi-generational fanbase, and her upcoming role in Scarpetta, Curtis ensures the reboot will draw not just longtime Murder, She Wrote devotees, but new fans too.
Memorable Guest Stars In The Original
As mentioned above, I have started re-watching every episode, and one of the best things about it is seeing now famous people star in small guest roles – and how young everybody looks!
The parade of guests includes plenty of actors who would go on to become household names who stepped into Cabot Cove before their careers took off.
Check out these famous faces who visited (sometimes to be murdered, sometimes for some sleuthing):
- George Clooney – Season 3, Episode 18 (“No Laughing Murder”) saw a young Clooney early in his career, long before movie superstardom
- Joaquin Phoenix – Appeared in the very first season (Episode 8, “We’re Off to Kill the Wizard”) as Billy, Jessica’s great-nephew, credited as Leaf Phoenix
- Bryan Cranston – The Breaking Bad legend dropped by in Season 2 (“Menace, Anyone?”) as a murder suspect, years before he became TV royalty
- Linda Hamilton – Sharing Cranston’s episode, Hamilton played Carol McDermott right after her career-defining Terminator role
- Courteney Cox – Pre-Friends, Cox popped up in the two-part Season 3 opener “Death Stalks the Big Top” as Carol Bannister, Jessica’s niece
And who could forget the glorious crossover with Magnum PI? Yes, Tom Selleck and Angela Lansbury joined forces in the two-part adventure, starting with the Murder, She Wrote episode “Novel Connection” and concluding in “Magnum on Ice”.
The episodes are TV event history, pairing two cult crime-solvers for double the intrigue and double the charm.
So, if you fancy a bit of sleuthing and celebrity spotting, here is where you can currently watch the original Murder, She Wrote…
Catch Up Before the Movie!
Still need your fix of classic Jessica Fletcher (or just want to revisit your favourite murder solved over tea)?
Here’s how you can watch Murder, She Wrote right now:
In the UK: Channel 5’s My5 streaming platform is your go-to, offering whole seasons for free (with ads).
The service recently started the show over from Episode 1, so it’s the perfect time to dive in or catch up.
I should point out that it seems to only stream about 10 episodes at a time, then they leave and the new ones arrive – strange, but that’s how they are making it available.
In the US:
- Peacock TV (premium subscription) streams all seasons
- Amazon Prime Video carries seasons 1–6 and the four TV movies (free with ads via Freevee)
- Pluto TV, Roku Channel, and Samsung TV Plus all host 24/7 live channels devoted to Murder, She Wrote marathons or have select episodes on demand
- Hallmark Mysteries and Great American Family channels air scheduled blocks for cable viewers
Whether you’re rewatching for comfort or introducing Jessica’s world to new cozy-mystery fans, there’s never been a better moment to celebrate this iconic series and to get excited for Jamie Lee Curtis’s debut as Cabot Cove’s finest.
