Angelina Jolie snagged a great gig with Fox 2000 and author Patricia Cornwell. All three are teaming up for a killer deal.

The studio is working on acquiring screen rights to Cornwell’s bestselling book series on medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, to develop as a vehicle for Jolie.  This deal should set her up for a long career as she raises her brood with Brad Pitt.  

Sixteen novels means franchise deals in Hollywood. If you just do one a year that’s 16 years of commitment for Jolie. But wait a minute, Variety reports that the first film won’t be tied to a specific Cornwell mystery title. The opera-loving coroner Scarpetta will be the lead in a suspense thriller in the vein of  The Silence of the Lambs and Seven.

Oh well, that’s Hollywood.

The truth of the matter is that Cornwell is one of the biggest selling female authors in the world.  My guess is that if you attach Cornwell’s name and Jolie’s name to a film, it’s bankable.