NBC has a modern-day police procedural based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby in development, according to an exclusive Deadline report dated 30 October 2026. The show carries a partial gender swap: the novel's narrator, Nick Carraway, becomes a woman.
The twist applies to Carraway rather than to Gatsby himself, as Digg's write-up of the report notes. The project is at the development stage, so a series order has not been confirmed.
Nicky Carraway, detective and would-be novelist
The lead is Nicole "Nicky" Carraway, a decorated New York State Police detective who hopes to become a writer, while Gatsby is portrayed as a con man with a talent for reading people. That keeps the narrator's literary ambitions from the book and moves them into a crime-drama setting.
The A.V. Club reports that the series, simply titled Gatsby, is set in the present day and follows detectives Jay Gatsby and Nicky Carraway.
The series is written and executive produced by Jake Coburn and Jason Tracey, according to MovieWeb.
Why a Gatsby procedural is a notable departure
Television has barely touched the novel. MovieWeb notes the last TV version aired in 1956 as a single episode of CBS' Playhouse 90, which makes a serialised, network-length take an unusual proposition.
The novel entered the public domain in 2021, and Dark Horizons compares the NBC plan to what Elementary and Watson did with Sherlock Holmes. That comparison fits the pattern of classic characters being transplanted into contemporary crime formats.
Fitzgerald's novel has a long adaptation history, with stage, film, television and radio versions stretching back to a 1926 Broadway play. Most of those have stayed close to its Jazz Age setting, which is what makes a contemporary police-drama framing a clear break.
The Great Gatsby is set on Long Island and follows narrator Nick Carraway's dealings with the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. For LuvemBooks' verdict on the novel itself, read our review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NBC's The Great Gatsby TV series?
It is a police procedural in development at NBC, reimagining F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel in the present day with a gender-swapped Nick Carraway.
Who plays Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby in the NBC series?
No casting has been reported for the NBC series, which is still in development.
Is Gatsby gender-swapped in the NBC series?
No. The gender swap applies to Nick Carraway, who becomes Nicole "Nicky" Carraway, a New York State Police detective.
Is The Great Gatsby worth reading before the NBC show arrives?
The show is a loose reimagining rather than a faithful retelling, so the novel stands on its own; our review gives the full verdict.
When was The Great Gatsby last adapted for television?
According to MovieWeb, the last TV version aired in 1956 as a single episode of CBS' Playhouse 90.
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