Damon Wayans Jr. is set to headline NBC’s new drama pilot Puzzled, an adaptation of Danielle Trussoni’s Puzzle Master novels being developed at Universal Television. The series was ordered to pilot in January and promises a fresh spin on the crime procedural by centering stories on a protagonist whose brain works differently after a life-changing injury.
Who he plays
Wayans Jr. will portray Mike Brink, a former college athlete who survived a catastrophic fire. The trauma left him with an uncommon neurological condition—described by the creative team as acquired savant syndrome—which has unlocked extraordinary pattern-recognition and problem-solving abilities. By day he earns money betting on sports; by night he’s an occasional consultant to local police, applying his heightened cognitive talents to baffling cases.
What the show will feel like
The intent is to blend puzzle-driven mystery with an intimate character study. Expect episodes that flip between forensic riddles and quieter moments about identity, recovery and the moral gray zones of using a disability-derived gift for profit and justice. Rather than leaning solely on standard procedural mechanics, Puzzled aims to dramatize how Mike experiences the world—how sensory impressions, internal logic and mathematical insight steer an investigation.
Creative team and production
Joey Falco writes and executive-produces the pilot; Jordan Cerf of Linden Entertainment is also an executive producer. Danielle Trussoni is attached as a producer to help shepherd the books’ tone into television form. Universal Television is handling production for NBC. Wayans Jr., who produces under his Two Shakes Entertainment banner and has a first-look producing relationship with CBS Studios, brings both comedic chops and recent producing experience to the project.
Why this matters
The package—a recognizable lead, literary source material and studio backing—gives Puzzled a clear identity in a crowded marketplace. The neuropsychological angle is intended to set it apart from typical crime fare, but critics and viewers will likely watch closely to see whether the series balances neurological specificity with humane storytelling.
What’s next
The pilot remains in development. Producers haven’t announced additional casting, production dates or a shooting timeline. If it moves forward, look for casting news and a clearer sense of whether the show will tilt more toward serialized character arcs or procedural case-of-the-week storytelling.