Emily Deschanel to Star in NBC’s Criminal Profiler Drama

The former ‘Bones’ lead will topline a pilot based on the life and work of profiler Ann Burgess. Emily Deschanel Emily Sandifer Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Logo text NBC has found the lead actress for its drama pilot about a criminal profiler. Former Bones star Emily Deschanel will play the role in the show, which is based on the life and work of profiler and author Dr. Ann Burgess. The pilot comes from writers Dean Georgaris (the 2022 Quantum Leap, The Meg) and John Fox (The Blacklist) and Universal Television. Deschanel joins her former Bones co-star David Boreanaz, who will play the lead in a Rockford Files reboot, in toplining an NBC pilot this season. Earlier Tuesday, the network announced Damon Wayans Jr. will star in another drama pilot, Puzzled. Related Stories TV Damon Wayans Jr. to Star in NBC Drama 'Puzzled' TV TV Ratings: NBA All-Star Game Hits 15-Year High With Move to NBC The logline for currently untitled profiler pilot reads, “Professor Georgia Ryan (Deschanel) is a trailblazing psychologist who challenges the field of criminology by shifting the investigative focus to the victim rather than just the perpetrator in order to uncover the crucial clues that more traditional methods leave behind. Alongside her team, this pioneering expert consults with the FBI to solve the most baffling and elusive cases.” The pilot is one of eight NBC has ordered this year in its small-scale revival of the traditional pilot season. The network has more than doubled its pilot count from a year ago after budgeting for an increase in the old-school development method. Georgaris and Fox are executive producing with John Davis of Davis Entertainment. Burgess and Steven Constantine are consulting producers. Following her 12-season run on Bones, Deschanel had a season-long run on TNT’s Animal Kingdom and starred in Netflix’s miniseries Devil in Ohio, along with feature films ReEntry and Big Boys. She is repped by Gersh, Principal Entertainment LA and Hansen Jacobsen. Read More About: Emily Deschanel NBC TV Pilots THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up More from The Hollywood Reporter Live Feed How a ‘Stranger Things’ Star’s Netflix Journey Morphed into a Tragic ‘Industry’ Twist