Dan Levy Big Mistakes Is Finally Here — and He’s Not Trying to Top Schitt’s Creek
Dan Levy Big Mistakes is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about Netflix premieres of 2026 — and the man behind it couldn’t care less about living up to his own legacy. After shepherding one of the most beloved comedies in recent television history, Levy is stepping back into the spotlight on his own terms, and it sounds like he’s genuinely at peace with that decision.
The Emmy-winning creator took some much-needed breathing room after Schitt’s Creek wrapped its six-season run. No rushing, no knee-jerk follow-ups. Just time — the one thing Hollywood rarely gives you and the one thing Levy says he absolutely needed.
Now, ahead of the April 9 premiere, Levy is opening up about creative anxiety, casting gambles, and why he deliberately locked the door on comparison the moment he started writing again.
Credit:https://www.youtube.com/@CBSSundayMorning
What Is Dan Levy’s Big Mistakes Actually About?
Set against the chaotic backdrop of New Jersey, Big Mistakes centers on two wildly mismatched siblings — Nicky, a closeted pastor played by Levy himself, and Morgan, a schoolteacher played by breakout star Taylor Ortega. Their lives take a catastrophic turn when Morgan impulsively steals a diamond necklace from a local shop, intending to give it to their grandmother as a final deathbed gift.
Here’s where it gets gloriously messy: that jewelry store is a front for organized crime. The furious shop owner traces the theft back to the siblings, and suddenly Nicky and Morgan are being blackmailed into running criminal errands for people they are spectacularly unprepared to deal with.
Levy described his characters as “deeply incapable” — and that’s clearly the whole point. The comedy lives in the gap between the danger these two are facing and their utter inability to handle any of it. Think fish-out-of-water chaos, except the water is a mob operation.
The eight-episode first season is available to stream on Netflix starting April 9, 2026. Each episode runs approximately 30 minutes, making it an easy weekend binge.
Dan Levy Big Mistakes and the Shadow of Schitt’s Creek
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room — because everyone else certainly has. When your previous show ends by sweeping all seven major comedy categories at the Emmys in a single night, the question of “what’s next?” becomes less a curiosity and more a pressure cooker.
Levy says he felt that heat immediately. The moment the finale aired, the industry was already circling with that dreaded question, and he wasn’t having it. His response? Wait. Think. Don’t panic.
“When the show ended, there was this immediate conversation of, ‘What are you doing next?'” Levy recalled at a Netflix tastemakers event in Los Angeles. He called it a horrible way to do business — and honestly, it’s hard to argue with him.
When he did eventually sit down to develop the Dan Levy Big Mistakes concept, he made a conscious choice: Schitt’s Creek was not invited to the writers’ room. Pressed on whether he worried about matching that show’s cultural impact, his answer was a flat no — delivered with zero apology. In his view, the only way to create something worthwhile is to make something that feels good to you, not something designed to check boxes set by your own past.
That kind of creative confidence is rare, especially after a career-defining win. It also bodes well for anyone hoping Big Mistakes brings something genuinely fresh to the table. For more on celebrity news and career comebacks like this one, we’ve got you covered.
The Cast That Makes Dan Levy Big Mistakes Worth Watching
Levy has talked at length about how crucial chemistry is in ensemble casting — and with this show, he appears to have struck gold twice over.
Taylor Ortega, who plays Morgan, was the first major piece of the puzzle. Levy said the connection was immediate: either you have it with someone or you don’t. With Ortega, there was no question. Levy has been vocal about his belief that she’s about to become a household name, and given the energy she brings to the trailers, that prediction doesn’t seem far-fetched.
The second casting coup — and Levy clearly considers it the crown jewel — is Laurie Metcalf, who joins the series as the siblings’ mother, Linda. Metcalf is one of the most decorated character actors working today, and Levy’s excitement about landing her borders on giddy. He’s admitted that even if everything else about the show fell short, having Metcalf anchoring the family dynamic gave him a kind of creative security blanket.
Rounding out the core ensemble are Abby Quinn and Boran Kuzum, both of whom appear prominently in first-look images from the set. Co-creator Rachel Sennott also stars alongside Levy, bringing her sharp comedic instincts to a project she helped shape from the ground up.
How Dan Levy Big Mistakes Came Together Behind the Scenes
The origin story of this show is almost as entertaining as its premise. Levy has described the core idea as rooted in a deeply personal anxiety — a fear of being trapped. He loves his freedom, and the thought of being involuntarily dragged into a situation he can’t escape from? That’s nightmare fuel for him. And apparently, it’s also comedy gold.
From that personal fear came the concept of two ordinary people — completely unequipped, wildly out of their depth — being forced to operate inside a criminal organization. Levy says the comedy comes naturally from imagining how useless he’d personally be in that scenario. The bigger the stakes, the funnier the incompetence.
Development on the series began in earnest after Levy signed an overall deal with Netflix through his production banner, Not a Real Production Company. He co-created the project with actress Rachel Sennott, who brings a completely different creative energy to the table. The pair were introduced publicly at a tastemakers event at Max & Helen’s, a popular LA restaurant, on March 30, 2026 — less than two weeks before the premiere.
Filming wrapped in October 2025 after a two-month shoot primarily based in New Jersey, lending the show an authentic East Coast texture that feels miles away from the Canadian small-town charm of Schitt’s Creek.
Keep up with all the trending shows and must-watch Netflix releases right here as the season heats up.
Catherine O’Hara, Grief, and Why a Schitt’s Creek Sequel Is Off the Table
No conversation about Levy’s next chapter is complete without acknowledging the heartbreak of January 2026, when Catherine O’Hara — who played the unforgettable Moira Rose — passed away suddenly. The loss rippled through the entertainment industry, and for Levy, it was clearly deeply personal.
He recently revisited the actual filming locations of Schitt’s Creek in Goodwood, Ontario — a small town of fewer than 700 people — for the first time since production ended. Standing back in those streets, surrounded by memories of a cast and crew he clearly loves, was an emotional experience he didn’t fully anticipate.
Levy has confirmed that any notion of a revival or sequel is now completely off the table. O’Hara wasn’t just a castmate — she was the irreplaceable heart of the Roses. Without her, there’s no version of that world worth returning to. It’s a graceful and painful acknowledgment, and it speaks to the kind of integrity that has defined Levy’s career from the beginning.
The show’s original run remains one of the most complete, well-ended comedies in modern television history — and maybe that’s exactly how it should stay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dan Levy’s Big Mistakes
When does Dan Levy’s Big Mistakes premiere on Netflix?
Big Mistakes drops on Netflix on April 9, 2026. The series consists of eight episodes, each running roughly 30 minutes, so a full binge is very manageable over a weekend.
Who co-created Big Mistakes with Dan Levy?
Levy developed the show alongside actress Rachel Sennott, who also stars in the series. The two share creator and executive producer credits under Levy’s Netflix deal through his production company, Not a Real Production Company.
Is Big Mistakes connected to Schitt’s Creek in any way?
No — Big Mistakes is an entirely original series with its own characters, setting, and tone. It’s set in New Jersey, centers on crime comedy, and was designed by Levy to stand completely apart from his previous work.
Will there be a Schitt’s Creek reunion or sequel now that Dan Levy has a new show?
Levy has confirmed that a Schitt’s Creek sequel is not happening, largely out of respect for Catherine O’Hara, who passed away in January 2026. He has indicated the loss makes a revival feel impossible and inappropriate.
The Bottom Line on Dan Levy Big Mistakes
Dan Levy Big Mistakes arrives at exactly the right moment — when fans are hungry for his voice again but smart enough to know better than to expect a carbon copy of what came before. Levy has built something fresh, funny, and deeply personal, assembled a cast that can clearly hold its own, and refused to let the ghost of his greatest achievement haunt the room while he worked.
That alone makes this one worth watching. April 9 can’t come soon enough.
What do you think — are you ready to take a chance on Levy’s newest chaotic family? Drop a comment below and let us know if you’re tuning in!