Jake Johnson is officially heading back to network television — and this time, he’s trading loft life for the unpredictable world of private investigations.
The former New Girl star has signed on to headline a new single-camera comedy pilot at NBC, created by Dan Goor — best known as the co-creator of Brooklyn Nine-Nine — alongside executive producer Luke Del Tredici.
What Is the New NBC Comedy About?
The untitled half-hour series dives into the chaotic, often absurd world of Los Angeles private detectives. Johnson will play Mickey, a sharp but emotionally guarded investigator with a talent for cracking difficult cases. Once an LAPD officer, Mickey’s career — and personal life — unraveled three years earlier, pushing him into the morally gray territory of private investigation.
Described as intelligent, sarcastic and quietly heartbroken, Mickey reportedly tries to mask his vulnerabilities behind wit and detachment. The workplace comedy is said to pay homage to the long tradition of L.A. private eyes — from classic noir inspirations like Philip Marlowe — while delivering a modern comedic twist.
NBC’s Strategy: Familiar Faces, Big Followings
NBC appears to be leaning into star power this development season. Johnson joins fellow Fox-era television leads making moves to the network. David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel — both of Bones — are also attached to separate NBC pilots, including a reboot of The Rockford Files and a new drama project.
The studio behind Johnson’s project is Universal Television, part of Universal Studio Group.
Jake Johnson’s Busy 2026 Slate
Johnson’s return to broadcast TV comes amid an especially packed schedule. In 2026, he is expected to appear in The Sun Never Set, marking his fourth collaboration with indie filmmaker Joe Swanberg. The project, which premiered at SXSW, features Johnson opposite Dakota Fanning, with Johnson also serving as a producer.
He is also attached to the Apple TV+ series Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed alongside Tatiana Maslany, as well as the pickleball-themed comedy The Dink, starring Mary Steenburgen and Ed Harris.
Recently, Johnson expanded his creative résumé by writing, directing and starring in Self Reliance for Hulu. He also reprised his voice role as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and appeared in the comedy series Minx.
Why This Pilot Could Be NBC’s Next Comedy Hit?
With the comedic pedigree of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine team and Johnson’s established fanbase from New Girl, the project already has strong built-in audience appeal. Blending workplace humor, detective noir references and character-driven storytelling, the series could offer NBC a fresh comedic identity while capitalizing on nostalgia for 2010s network hits.
The pilot has not yet received an official series order, but industry buzz suggests it’s one to watch closely this development cycle.
If greenlit, Johnson’s private eye could soon become television’s next unlikely hero — solving crimes while navigating heartbreak in true L.A. fashion.
Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons