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NBC Drama Pilot ‘What the Dead Know’ Casts Lorenza Izzo
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NBC Drama Pilot ‘What the Dead Know’ Casts Lorenza Izzo

#NBC #What the Dead Know #Lorenza Izzo #drama pilot #casting #television #series development

📌 Key Takeaways

  • NBC has cast Lorenza Izzo in its drama pilot 'What the Dead Know'.
  • The project is a pilot, indicating it's in early development for potential series pickup.
  • Izzo's role specifics are not detailed in the announcement.
  • The casting marks a key step in assembling the show's production team.

📖 Full Retelling

Lorenza Izzo is the latest addition to the cast of the NBC drama pilot “What the Dead Know,” Variety has learned. Izzo will appear alongside previously announced lead Taylor Schilling and fellow cast member Michiel Huisman in the pilot, which hails from executive producer Dick Wolf. It is based on the memoir of the same […]

🏷️ Themes

Television Casting, Drama Development

📚 Related People & Topics

What the Dead Know

Crime thriller novel by Laura Lippman

What the Dead Know is a crime thriller by the American writer Laura Lippman, published in 2007. Set in Baltimore in 2005, the novel follows an investigation into a woman who claims to be Heather Bethany, a girl who disappeared thirty years prior. The book received critical acclaim and won the 2007 Q...

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NBC

NBC

American broadcast television network

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network, serving as the flagship property of NBC Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, which is a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's two flagship subsidiaries, alongside Universal St...

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Lorenza Izzo

Lorenza Izzo

Chilean actress and model

Lorenza Francesca Izzo Parsons (; Spanish: [loˈɾensa ˈiso]; born September 19, 1989) is a Chilean actress and model. She has appeared in films, including Aftershock (2012), The Green Inferno (2013), Knock Knock (2015), and Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

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Mentioned Entities

What the Dead Know

Crime thriller novel by Laura Lippman

NBC

NBC

American broadcast television network

Lorenza Izzo

Lorenza Izzo

Chilean actress and model

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This casting news matters because it signals NBC's continued investment in developing new dramatic content, which affects television viewers seeking fresh programming and industry professionals looking for work opportunities. For Lorenza Izzo, this represents a significant career advancement into a potential lead role on a major network series. The pilot's development also impacts NBC's programming strategy as they compete in the increasingly crowded streaming and broadcast landscape. If successful, this could become a new franchise for the network and create ongoing employment for cast and crew.

Context & Background

  • NBC is one of the 'Big Three' American television networks with a history of successful drama series like 'This Is Us,' 'Law & Order,' and 'Chicago' franchises
  • Pilot season typically occurs in spring when networks order test episodes to determine which shows will get full series orders for the fall schedule
  • Lorenza Izzo previously appeared in horror films like 'The Green Inferno' and 'Knock Knock,' and TV series including 'Scream Queens' and 'The Horror of Dolores Roach'
  • NBC's drama development slate competes with streaming services and other networks for audience attention in a fragmented media environment
  • The title 'What the Dead Know' suggests a mystery or supernatural thriller genre, which has been popular in recent television programming

What Happens Next

The pilot will enter production with filming expected to occur in the coming months. NBC executives will then evaluate the completed pilot to decide whether to order it to series, typically by May during upfronts season. If picked up, the show would likely premiere in fall 2025 or as a mid-season replacement. Additional casting announcements for supporting roles are expected as production approaches. Marketing and promotional campaigns would begin several months before any potential premiere date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a television pilot?

A pilot is a standalone test episode produced to showcase a potential television series to network executives. It establishes characters, tone, and premise to help determine whether the network will order a full season of episodes.

Who is Lorenza Izzo?

Lorenza Izzo is a Chilean actress and model known for roles in horror films like 'The Green Inferno' and television series including 'Scream Queens.' She is married to filmmaker Eli Roth and has been building her career in both English and Spanish-language productions.

How does NBC decide which pilots become series?

NBC executives evaluate pilots based on creative quality, audience testing, fit with their programming schedule, production costs, and potential for attracting advertisers. Successful pilots typically receive orders for additional episodes during the network's upfront presentations in May.

What genre is 'What the Dead Know' likely to be?

Based on the title and NBC's drama classification, the series appears to be a mystery or supernatural thriller. The title suggests themes involving death, secrets, or paranormal elements, which aligns with popular television genres in recent years.

When would this show potentially air?

If the pilot is successful and gets a series order, it would likely premiere in fall 2025 as part of NBC's new season lineup. Alternatively, it could debut as a mid-season replacement in early 2026 if the network chooses to hold it for later scheduling.

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Original Source
Mar 17, 2026 1:00pm PT NBC Drama Pilot ‘What the Dead Know’ Casts Lorenza Izzo By Joe Otterson Plus Icon Joe Otterson TV Reporter joeotterson Latest ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams Among Six to Recur in Netflix FTX Series ‘The Altruists’ 1 hour ago ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ RiffTrax Revival Kickstarter Raises Nearly $2.7 Million 2 hours ago ‘White Lotus’ Season 4 Casts Max Greenfield, Kumail Nanjiani, Chloe Bennet, Charlie Hall, Jarrad Paul 3 hours ago See All Lorenza Izzo is the latest addition to the cast of the NBC drama pilot “What the Dead Know,” Variety has learned. Izzo will appear alongside previously announced lead Taylor Schilling and fellow cast member Michiel Huisman in the pilot, which hails from executive producer Dick Wolf. It is based on the memoir of the same name by former New York City medical examiner Barbara Butcher. The logline for the show states, “Death Investigator Ava Ledger is really good with dead bodies. It’s the living that give her trouble. ‘What the Dead Know’ follows Ava as she teams with the NYPD to solve their toughest cases.” Popular on Variety Izzo will play Det. Danielle Castillo, who is described as “A computer crimes specialist with the NYPD, Danielle has recently been reassigned to homicide.” Izzo can be seen in the hit HBO Max series “Hacks” in the role of Ruby. She has also been in shows like “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” and “Feed the Beast.” She will next be seen in the Amazon series “El Gato Negro.” In film, she has starred in features including Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” as well as “Confess, Fletch,” “Women Is Loser,” and “Stone Cold Fox.” She is repped by IAG and 1v1 Entertainment. “What the Dead Know” is being written and executive produced by Beth Rinehart. Wolf executive produces via Wolf Entertainment along with Tom Thayer, Peter Jankowski, and Anastasia Puglisi. Fred Berner will direct the pilot and executive produce. Kevin Plunkett, Rebecca McGill, and Butcher are co-executi...
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