Peter Krause Leads NBC Thriller
Peter Krause has been cast as the lead in NBC's new drama pilot 'Protection,' marking his first role in what's described as an ensemble series. The show centers on a U.S. Marshal who falls in the line of duty, launching an investigation that unravels a deadly conspiracy within a family of law enforcement agents. NBC picked up the pilot in January 2026.
- This role marks Peter Krause's return to television after his character, fire captain Bobby Nash, was killed off the series *9-1-1* in 2025 after an eight-season run. - Krause will play Mike Thornhill, a former Secret Service agent who is now the Assistant Director of Intelligence. His character is described as a career government worker who has been the "life of the party," an attitude that has come at a personal cost. - The series is created by Josh Safran, who previously created the ABC thriller *Quantico* and served as showrunner for *Gossip Girl*. - *Today* co-host Jenna Bush Hager is an executive producer on the project, drawing in part from her personal experience with the Secret Service while her father was president. The show is part of her production company's first-look deal with Universal Studio Group. - Krause is a veteran of acclaimed television dramas, having earned three Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for his leading role as Nate Fisher in HBO's *Six Feet Under*. - He has a history with NBC, having previously starred as Adam Braverman in the network's family drama *Parenthood* from 2010 to 2015. - The pilot for *Protection* is part of a larger strategy at NBC to return to a more traditional pilot season, with the network aiming to order three to four drama pilots for the upcoming season.
