Taylor Schilling is getting a do-over at NBC. While the Orange Is the New Black star's crime procedural pilot What The Dead Know didn't clinch a series order this season, the network has decided the premise and the talent warrant another try.
According to Deadline, NBC is keeping Schilling attached and moving forward with a redeveloped version of the Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television project — complete with a brand-new writer.
The move signals confidence in Schilling. Networks rarely spend resources on redevelopment unless they believe in the star's appeal and the project's commercial potential.
Pilots get greenlit, air to mixed reception, and then receive another chance with fresh creative input. Sometimes the missing ingredient is not the lead but the writing.
For Schilling, the advantage is direct: she remains attached to the project. The network could have ditched it entirely. Instead, they're saying they see potential and want to make it work.
The redevelopment news comes as part of NBC's post-upfront recalibration. Not every pilot lands, but projects with established stars and backing often get a second chance.
Fans will have to wait and see if What The Dead Know returns with a revised script. For now, Schilling remains in the project — repositioned for a comeback.
