9-1-1 alum Peter Krause has signed on to star in “Protection,” a new drama pilot in development at NBC, marking his potential return to network television following his departure from the ABC procedural.
Peter Krause will play Mike Thornhill, a former Secret Service agent and now Assistant Director of Intelligence.
“Mike is a career blue-collar government worker who doesn’t want his job to end,” according to the official character description. “He’s been the life of the party forever and that attitude has come at a cost.”
“Protection” received a pilot order at NBC in January. The project is executive produced by “Gossip Girl” veteran Josh Safran and “Today” host Jenna Bush Hager.
According to the official logline, “When a U.S. Marshal falls in the line of duty, a seemingly cut-and-dry case turns into a deadly conspiracy as a family of law enforcement agents become the target of a mysterious assassin.”
The logline continues: “Bridging personal differences and crossing professional boundaries, the Thornhill family must use the expertise from a lifetime of protecting civilians and politicians to protect one another and bring the killer to justice … even if it means betraying their sworn code.”
The series centers on the Thornhill family, whose members possess extensive experience in law enforcement and intelligence work. Krause’s character, Mike Thornhill, is positioned as a senior intelligence official navigating professional pressures alongside personal conflicts within his family.
Krause most recently portrayed fire captain Bobby Nash on ABC’s “9-1-1.” The character was killed off in Season 8 after being exposed to a deadly virus in a lab explosion. Bobby Nash’s farewell episode aired last April.
With his exit from ABC’s “9-1-1,” “Protection” would represent Krause’s first television role since leaving the series, if the pilot moves forward to a full series order.
Creative Team and Development Context
Josh Safran, known for his work on “Gossip Girl,” joins the project as an executive producer alongside Jenna Bush Hager, who serves as a host on “Today.” Their involvement places the pilot within NBC’s broader scripted development slate.
Network television pilots typically undergo a review process before a decision is made on whether to proceed to series production. NBC announced the pilot order for “Protection” in January, indicating the project is currently in its early development phase.
Krause has an extensive television résumé that includes roles in “Six Feet Under” and “Parenthood.” His portrayal of Bobby Nash on “9-1-1” spanned multiple seasons before the character’s on-screen death in Season 8.
“9-1-1” is an emergency response drama that aired on ABC following its initial run on Fox. The series follows first responders, including firefighters and paramedics, responding to high-stakes emergencies.
“Protection” shifts the narrative focus from emergency response to federal law enforcement and intelligence operations. The premise involves a U.S. Marshal’s death and a conspiracy that targets a law enforcement family.
The pilot’s storyline emphasizes internal family dynamics and ethical dilemmas within the context of protecting civilians and politicians. The Thornhill family’s collective professional background forms the foundation of the central conflict.
Details regarding casting beyond Krause have not been disclosed in the available information. NBC has not announced a premiere date, as the project remains at the pilot stage.
As development progresses, “Protection” will join other network pilot contenders competing for series orders in the current television cycle. Information about NBC’s pilot development and programming slate can be found on NBC’s official website.
If commissioned to series, “Protection” would mark Krause’s return to a leading role in a network drama following the conclusion of his tenure as Bobby Nash, expanding his body of work that includes “Six Feet Under,” “Parenthood,” and “9-1-1.”