NBC Orders Dick Wolf Pilot ‘What the Dead Know,’ ‘Puzzle Master’ Show

NBC is on a roll with pilot orders, adding two new drama projects to their lineup for the 2026 season. The network recently announced pilot orders for “Puzzled” and “What the Dead Know,” bringing their total to six new pilots in the works.

“Puzzled,” written by Joey Falco of “Charmed” and “Sleepy Hollow” fame, is based on the “Puzzle Master” books by Danielle Trussoni. The show follows the story of Mike Brink, a former college athlete who gains a unique perspective on the world after a tragic accident. His traumatic brain injury gives him the ability to see things differently, helping him solve crimes alongside the local police. Executive produced by Jordan Cerf and Falco, with Trussoni on board as a producer, “Puzzled” is produced by Universal Television.

The other pilot, “What the Dead Know,” has legendary “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf as an executive producer. Written by Beth Rinehart, known for her work on “FBI: Most Wanted” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” the series is based on the memoir of former NYC medical examiner Barbara Butcher. The show follows death investigator Ava Ledger as she navigates the world of dead bodies while teaming up with the NYPD to solve complex cases. Executive producers include Tom Thayer, Peter Jankowski, and Anastasia Puglisi, with co-EPs Kevin Plunkett, Rebecca McGill, and Butcher. Wolf Entertainment produces the show, with Universal Television as the studio.

In addition to these two new projects, NBC also announced pilot orders for a detective comedy from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” co-creator Dan Goor and executive producer Luke Del Tredici. They also have a drama pilot from Dean Georgaris and John Fox, inspired by the FBI research of Dr. Ann Burgess. Another drama pilot called “Protection,” from Josh Safran, Jenna Bush Hager, and Ben Spector, follows a family of law enforcement agents targeted by a mysterious assassin. And to top it off, NBC is working on a contemporary update of “The Rockford Files” from Mike Daniels of “Sons of Anarchy.”

With a diverse range of new projects in the works, NBC is gearing up for an exciting season ahead. Stay tuned for more updates on these pilot orders and their progress towards becoming full-fledged series.