Big mistakes premieres on Netflix April 9, Dan Levy’s first show since Schitt’s Creek

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• A Return to Form After Six Years Away
• Plot, Characters, and Creative Vision
• An Ensemble of Excellence
• Religious Respect and Emotional Authenticity
• What Can Audiences Expect Starting April 9?
  • Sources

Dan Levy returns to television after six years away from Schitt’s Creek, and this time he’s bringing the whole family into organized crime. Big Mistakes premieres on Netflix April 9, 2026, marking his second scripted series and a dramatic departure from the beloved sitcom format.

A Return to Form After Six Years Away

Dan Levy stepped away from television after the Emmy-winning conclusion of Schitt’s Creek in 2020. During his hiatus, he made his directorial debut with the Netflix film Good Grief in 2024, which earned critical acclaim and allowed him to explore darker, more dramatic storytelling. This new venture represents his first step back into the television landscape since leaving his signature family comedy behind, signaling a deliberate, intentional choice rather than a return born of industry pressure or momentum-chasing.

The Big Mistakes announcement came through an elaborate marketing stunt in March 2026, with a mysterious billboard on Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard featuring a stolen diamond necklace spelling out the date 4.9.26. Cast members including Levy, Ortega, Metcalf, Quinn, Kuzum, and Innanen were revealed as the “culprits” behind the heist, building anticipation for the premiere.

Plot, Characters, and Creative Vision

The series follows Nicky (Levy), a gay pastor who follows rules to a fault, and his sister Morgan (Ortega), an impulsive woman stuck in a seemingly dead-end relationship. When the family gathers at a hospital deathbed in the opening scene, events spiral into chaos, and the siblings are blackmailed into working for dangerous organized criminals, forced at gunpoint into the world of crime. Their domineering mother Linda (Metcalf) and seemingly perfect sister Natalie (Quinn) round out the dysfunctional family unit.

Levy drew inspiration for the series from his obsessive documentaries about organized crime and his personal fear of being trapped in such situations. He collaborated with co-creator Rachel Sennott to craft a comedy that explores family trauma, generational dysfunction, and inherited pain. As Levy explained, he wanted to examine how a “very strong family would react” to such extreme circumstances. The show balances dark crime elements with intimate family comedy, examining what family members inherit from their parents and how they stand by each other, even when those people drive them crazy.

An Ensemble of Excellence

Actor	Character	Notable Credits
Dan Levy	Nicky	Schitt’s Creek, Good Grief
Taylor Ortega	Morgan	Succession, The Four Seasons
Laurie Metcalf	Linda	Roseanne, Hacks, Lady Bird
Abby Quinn	Natalie	Knock at the Cabin

Laurie Metcalf joined the cast as the matriarch after reading the script’s opening scene, which gave her character three lines in all caps at a hospital bedside. Levy recognized that Metcalf‘s presence was essential to legitimizing the family study and exploring inherited trauma. Taylor Ortega, who was the very first person to audition for the lead role, remained the casting choice. Though Levy saw 250 audition candidates, he wrote an additional scene to test chemistry, putting Ortega and himself in a locked van to showcase her range. The decision proved prescient, as Ortega related deeply to Morgan‘s character, particularly her reactions to self-inflicted misfortune.

The ensemble chemistry became immediately apparent to all involved. According to Metcalf, the cast “gelled so quickly” that she couldn’t recall a faster-clicking group in her decorated career spanning Roseanne, Hacks, and countless other iconic ensembles. Levy‘s deliberate casting prioritized social compatibility and a lack of ego on set, which created a collaborative, laughing environment from day one, strengthened during early rehearsals that included the entire cast.

Religious Respect and Emotional Authenticity

Levy made intentional choices about depicting Nicky’s priesthood with respect rather than ridicule. He consulted with Rev. Warren Swenson, a gay pastor, throughout the scripts to authenticate the portrayal. Rather than making religion the target of jokes, Levy wanted to honor Nicky’s beliefs and show how crisis would affect a religious person’s language and reactions. The character exists not as a caricature, but as a multidimensional person whose choice to become a pastor stems from his desire for stability and clear guidance, born from his complicated family relationships.

The series explores anger with authenticity, particularly among family members facing extreme duress. Levy comes from a “yelling family,” and the show’s emotional intensity will resonate deeply with similar households. However, he notes that “ninety percent” of theatrical anger doesn’t land universally, as different families have vastly different communication styles. Both Metcalf and Ortega bring genuine emotional vulnerability to these explosive moments, making the characters’ breaking points feel earned rather than performative.

What Can Audiences Expect Starting April 9?

Netflix will release all eight episodes simultaneously on April 9, 2026, allowing viewers to binge the complete season immediately. The show represents Levy’s first television work in six years and his second original scripted series overall. The official trailer is available on Netflix’s YouTube channel, showcasing the dark comedy tone and the cast’s electric chemistry. Based on early responses from test screenings, the show balances laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine family drama and crime thriller elements, creating something unexpected from the Schitt’s Creek creator.

Levy has confirmed that Big Mistakes came from his overall deal with Netflix, marking the first series under Not a Real Production Company‘s expanded output agreement. The platform’s confidence in Levy as both creator and performer reflects his proven track record with Schitt’s Creek, which won 15 Emmy Awards and became a cultural phenomenon across six seasons.

Sources

• Netflix Tudum – Official Big Mistakes cast, trailer, and release date announcement from March 12, 2026
• Los Angeles Times – Interview with Dan Levy, Taylor Ortega, and Laurie Metcalf about Big Mistakes from April 1, 2026
• Deadline – Dan Levy’s Big Mistakes Netflix comedy series release date and trailer details from March 12, 2026