Dan Levy is back on Netflix — this time as the co-creator, showrunner and star of a darkly comic new series titled Big Mistakes that finds him trading in the sitcom family for the criminal underworld. Levy, who helped create the series with actor-writer Rachel Sennott, also serves as an executive producer on the project and appears in promotional images in clerical garb, prompting early buzz about a “hot priest” turn.
Big Mistakes centers on two adult siblings — played by Levy and newcomer Taylor Ortega — who are awkwardly late to adulthood and find themselves blackmailed into a life of crime. The show’s creators have pitched its tone as a mash-up of sharp family comedy and gangster drama, evoking both Schitt’s Creek-style familial dysfunction and The Sopranos’ perilous underbelly. The premise marks a tonal departure for Levy, whose highest-profile work to date has been the warmly comic Schitt’s Creek.
Levy has been vocal about the cast and creative team he assembled. “I’m so excited to be bringing this truly chaotic family story to life with Netflix,” he said in a statement shared by the streamer, praising Ortega as a breakout in the making and expressing glee at finally getting to call Laurie Metcalf “mother.” Metcalf, the Emmy-nominated actor known for roles on stage and television, is confirmed in the series as the siblings’ mother.
Rachel Sennott — who co-created the project with Levy and has gained attention in recent years as an actor and writer — is attached as the show’s creative partner. Details about Sennott’s specific behind-the-scenes role beyond co-creator were not disclosed, but Levy is credited as showrunner, indicating he will lead the writers’ room and the series’ overall creative direction. Levy and Sennott’s partnership signals an attempt to blend sharp comedic instincts with edgier dramatic stakes.
Netflix has released early images and statements but has not yet provided a premiere date or a full episode count. Production and casting beyond Levy, Ortega and Metcalf have not been publicly detailed. The streamer’s involvement reflects its continued investment in high-profile talent-driven series that mix genres and play to both comedy and prestige drama audiences.
Big Mistakes positions Levy in multiple influential roles — creator, showrunner, star and executive producer — at a moment when his profile remains high following Schitt’s Creek. The series’ blend of family dynamics and criminal peril will be watched closely as an indicator of Levy’s range as a showrunner and the creative possibilities when comedy writers lean into darker territory. Netflix has yet to announce a release window; further casting and production updates are expected as the project moves forward.