Taylor Schilling to Star in NBC Pilot From Producer Dick Wolf
Taylor Schilling has officially landed the lead role in the upcoming NBC drama pilot “What the Dead Know,” according to a report from Variety. The pilot, which was greenlit by NBC in January, is being executive produced by renowned producer Dick Wolf and is based on the memoir of former New York City medical examiner Barbara Butcher. The show follows Death Investigator Ava Ledger, played by Schilling, who excels at working with dead bodies but struggles with the living. Teaming up with the NYPD, Ava tackles their toughest cases in “What the Dead Know.”
Schilling, known for her role as Piper Chapman in the hit Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” has garnered critical acclaim for her work, earning an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations. She has also appeared in various television shows such as “Dear Edward,” “Pam & Tommy,” “Poker Face,” and the animated series “Pantheon” on AMC. Additionally, Schilling has showcased her talent on the big screen in films like “Family,” “The Lucky One,” and “Argo.”
Represented by Gersh, Untitled, and Goodman Genow, Schilling is set to bring her expertise to “What the Dead Know” as she takes on the complex role of Ava Ledger. The show is being written and executive produced by Beth Rinehart, with Wolf Entertainment, Tom Thayer, Peter Jankowski, and Anastasia Puglisi serving as executive producers. Co-executive producers include Kevin Plunkett, Rebecca McGill, and Barbara Butcher. The pilot is being produced by Universal Television, where Dick Wolf has an overall deal.
With the addition of Taylor Schilling to the cast, NBC has now filled all the lead roles in its drama pilots for the season. Other notable casting announcements include David Boreanaz in the network’s reboot of “The Rockford Files,” Emily Deschanel in an untitled criminal profiler drama pilot, Damon Wayans Jr. in “Puzzled,” and Peter Krause in the ensemble pilot “Protection.”
Stay tuned for more updates on “What the Dead Know” as production continues on this exciting new project.
