Angelina Jolie teams up with Patricia Cornwell

Angelina Jolie has been lined up to play Dr Kay Scarpetta in a film adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's bestselling book series.

Fox is acquiring the rights to adapt the Scarpetta series, which will be produced by Mark Gordon (Grey's Anatomy) and Geyer Kosinski, who worked with Angelina on Oscar-nominated Changeling.

The initial plan is to not simply adapt one specific book from the 16-part series, but to adapt the books rather loosely, in a similar vein to the Bourne films.

Angelina is currently one of the world's most bankable female movie stars and Patricia is one of the biggest-selling female authors, making this a marriage made in heaven for the studio.

If the film goes ahead, there are early indications that it may become a franchise, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Angelina won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in Girl, Interrupted and was nominated for Changeling this year, but was pipped to the post by Brit Kate Winslet.