Honestly, if you turn on a TV in 2026 and don't see Nicole Kidman's face within five minutes, you might want to check if your Wi-Fi is actually working. She’s everywhere. It’s not just that she’s "working a lot"—it's that she has fundamentally redefined what a "movie star" even does anymore. While most of her peers are still chasing that one big Oscar-bait film a year, Kidman has basically colonized the streaming world.
She isn't just acting in these shows; she’s often the person who hunted down the book rights, called the director, and made the whole thing happen.
The Nicole Kidman TV Series Revolution: It’s More Than Just Big Little Lies
A lot of people think this all started and ended with Big Little Lies. Wrong. Sure, that was the catalyst. Playing Celeste Wright was a massive moment—she won the Emmy, the Golden Globe, the whole nine yards. But if you look at the trajectory since then, she’s used that momentum to build a specific kind of "Kidman-verse." It’s usually wealthy people, stunning houses, and a layer of trauma so thick you could cut it with a knife.
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Take The Undoing. People were obsessed with those coats. But underneath the fashion, she was playing a woman whose entire reality was a lie. Then she pivoted to Nine Perfect Strangers, where she played Masha, a Russian wellness guru who was... let’s just say, "unconventional." Some critics found the accent a bit much, but you can’t deny she was swinging for the fences.
The range is actually pretty wild when you step back.
Recent Hits and Misses
In 2024, we got Expats. This one was divisive. Directed by Lulu Wang, it was a slow, meditative look at grief in Hong Kong. It didn't have the "whodunnit" energy of her other projects, which kinda threw some viewers off. But then she followed it up with The Perfect Couple on Netflix, which was a total return to form. It had the dance sequence that went viral and that classic "rich people with secrets" vibe that people just eat up.
- Lioness: She plays a CIA high-up. It's grittier, less about the beach houses and more about global security. Season 2 wrapped in late 2024, and word is season 3 is already a go.
- The Perfect Couple: A murder at a Nantucket wedding. Pure popcorn TV.
- Expats: High-brow, emotional, and visually stunning.
What’s Coming in 2026 (The Big Stuff)
If you thought she was taking a break, think again. 2026 is shaping up to be her biggest year on the small screen yet. There are two major projects everyone is talking about right now.
Scarpetta: The One We’ve Been Waiting For
This is the big one. After years of development hell, Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta is finally coming to the screen on Amazon Prime Video. It’s slated for March 11, 2026. Kidman is playing Kay, the forensic pathologist, and she’s joined by Jamie Lee Curtis. It’s a procedural, but with that "prestige" polish Kidman brings to everything.
The series is taking a dual-narrative approach, showing Kay’s early days in the 90s (played by Rosy McEwen) alongside the present-day investigations. It’s a smart move—it honors the long history of the books while keeping it modern.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Dropping on Apple TV+ on April 15, 2026, this one feels different. It’s based on Rufi Thorpe’s novel. Kidman stars alongside Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer. It’s about a girl (Fanning) who starts an OnlyFans to pay the bills, and Kidman plays her mother. Expect something a bit more comedic and biting than the usual "sad woman in a big house" trope.
Why Does This Formula Work?
Most actors are afraid of "overexposure." Kidman seems to find the idea hilarious. She’s leaning into the fact that we like seeing her in these specific types of roles. She’s become a brand. When you see a "Nicole Kidman TV series," you know exactly what you’re getting: high production value, a complicated female lead, and probably a very expensive-looking kitchen.
She's also savvy about who she works with. She keeps going back to David E. Kelley because they know how to make a hit. She seeks out female directors like Lulu Wang and Mimi Cave. It’s a strategy that has kept her relevant while other A-listers from her era are struggling to find roles that aren't "the grandmother."
A Quick Reality Check on the "Kidman Fatigue"
Is there too much Kidman? Maybe. Some viewers feel like the "prestige drama" genre is getting a little crowded with her face. Nine Perfect Strangers was called "dull" by some outlets like The Guardian, and Expats was criticized for its pacing. But the numbers don't lie. People keep watching. Even The Undoing, which came out years ago, was still hitting the Top 10 charts in late 2025.
She has a way of picking stories that tap into the zeitgeist—wellness culture, the "eat the rich" sentiment, the complexity of long-term marriage.
Your Nicole Kidman Watchlist for 2026
If you're trying to keep up, here’s the roadmap for the next few months. Forget the old stuff for a second; focus on these upcoming dates.
- Scarpetta (Amazon Prime Video): Set your calendar for March 11. This is the first time we've seen her do a proper crime procedural in a long time.
- Margo's Got Money Troubles (Apple TV+): Coming April 15. This is the one to watch if you're tired of the murder mysteries and want something with more of an indie-drama edge.
- Big Little Lies Season 3: It’s finally, officially moving forward. Production is rumored to be ramping up later this year. It seemed impossible after director Jean-Marc Vallée passed away, but the cast is too powerhouse to keep apart.
- Lioness Season 3: Expected late 2026 on Paramount+.
Basically, you’re going to need a lot of streaming subscriptions.
To get the most out of these shows, it actually helps to read the source material. Kidman is a huge reader, and she adapts books for a reason. Reading Margo's Got Money Troubles or the early Scarpetta novels will give you a much better appreciation for the choices she makes as a producer. Also, keep an eye on her production company, Blossom Films—that's usually where the best stuff is hiding before it even gets a trailer.
The best way to stay ahead is to watch the trailers as they drop in February for the spring lineup. There’s a specific "look" to a Kidman project—watch for the cinematography. If it looks like a painting and everyone is wearing silk, you're in the right place.