Brilliant Minds is an American medical drama television series created and written by Michael Grassi that is inspired by the Oliver Sacks books The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars. The series aired on NBC from September 23, 2024 until July 1, 2026.

In May 2025, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 22, 2025. After a mid-season break, the second season resumed on January 5, 2026. On February 4, 2026, NBC pulled the show from its schedule and later canceled the series on May 1, 2026, after two seasons. The final six episodes aired from May 27 until July 1, 2026.

Premise Primarily set in New York City, Dr. Oliver Wolf reluctantly takes a job leading a team of interns to treat very complex neurological and psychological patients at Bronx General Hospital. Although Wolf may be a brilliant and caring physician, he suffers from prosopagnosia, and sometimes may apply unconventional and unpredictable methods in order to fully connect with the patients he encounters on a daily basis. Despite this critical setback, Wolf remains committed to ensuring his patients get the appropriate and effective care they need while finding meaning in their unique conditions they're suffering from.

Cast and characters Main Zachary Quinto as Oliver Wolf (named after Oliver Wolf Sacks), an attending physician in neurology at Bronx General Hospital. Wolf has prosopagnosia and manages his condition while working with patients. Ted Sutherland as teenaged Oliver Wolf Jaden Waldman as young Oliver Wolf Tamberla Perry as Carol Pierce, the chair of psychiatry who is Wolf's best friend Ashleigh LaThrop as Ericka Kinney, a first-year resident in neurology Alex MacNicoll as Van Markus (season 1, recurring season 2), a first-year resident in neurology Aury Krebs as Dana Dang, a first-year resident in neurology Spence Moore II as Jacob Nash (season 1, recurring season 2), a first-year resident in neurology Teddy Sears as Josh Nichols, the chair of neurosurgery who becomes Wolf's boyfriend Brian Altemus as Charlie Porter (season 2), a new second-year resident in neurology John Clarence Stewart as Anthony Thorne (season 2), an attending physician in the emergency department Al Calderon as Nurse Nico Silva (season 2)

Recurring Donna Murphy as Muriel Landon, Wolf's mother, the chief medical officer at Bronx General Hospital. Alex Ozerov-Meyer as John Doe Mishel Prada as Katie Rodriguez Rainbow Sun Francks as Morris Allen Julia Chan as Alison Whitaker Dorrett White as Nurse Carter Mandy Patinkin as Noah Wolf, a family medicine physician who develops a mentor relationship with his son Oliver. Gray Powell plays a younger Noah in flashbacks. Stacey Farber as Michelle, care worker and Van Markus's former wife Bellamy Young as Amelia Frederick (season 2), a clinical director of Hudson Oaks Behavioral Health Services Facility Sarah Steele as Sofia (season 2) Marco Pigossi as Dr. Beau Pedrosa (season 2)

Guest André De Shields as Harold Steve Howey as Wyatt James Alexander Pennecke as Ezra Smith Sammi Hanratty as Bridget Brendan Hines as Simon Susan Bay Nimoy as June Sullivan Laura Vandervoort as Cynthia Grudko (season 2) Porsha Williams as Bitsy (season 2) Molly Bernard as Lauren Brooks (season 2) Connor Tomlinson as Tom (season 2) Jane Krakowski as Arianna Burnett (season 2), a wealthy donor of the hospital claiming her family is using a conservatorship to abuse her Eric Dane as Matthew Ramati (season 2), a firefighter battling ALS Casimere Jollette as Juliette (season 2), a ballerina who suffers a medical issue while rehearsing for The Nutcracker Brennan Clost as Mikhal (season 2), a ballet dancer who is rehearsing a pas de deux with Juliette for The Nutcracker

Episodes Series overview

Season 1 (2024–25)

Season 2 (2025–26)

Production Development In November 2019, it was announced that the series was in development at Fox, with the network landing the project with a script deal plus penalty. However, Fox did not go forward with the project. On January 24, 2023, the show's development was moved to NBC; it was given a series order on October 20, 2023. The series is created by Michael Grassi, and he is also expected to executive produce alongside Lee Toland Krieger, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Henrik Bastin, Melissa Aouate, Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish, Will Tennant, and DeMane Davis. Production companies involved with the series are Grassi Productions, Berlanti Productions, Fabel Entertainment, The Imaginarium, Universal Television, and Warner Bros. Television.

Brilliant Minds was moved to the 2024–25 season due to strike-related production delays. On May 1, 2024, the name change from Dr. Wolf to Brilliant Minds was announced. The show was given a 13-episode order for the first season. On May 12, 2025, NBC renewed the series for a second season. On May 1, 2026, NBC canceled the series after two seasons.

Casting On February 23, 2023, Zachary Quinto was cast to star. In April 2023, Teddy Sears, Tamberla Perry, Alex MacNicoll, Spence Moore II, Aury Krebs, and Ashleigh LaThrop joined the main cast. On November 28, 2023, Donna Murphy was cast in a recurring capacity. In July 2025, Brian Altemus, John Clarence Stewart, and Al Calderon joined the cast as new series regulars for the second season, while Bellamy Young was cast in a recurring capacity. On December 1, 2025, Sarah Steele joined the cast in a recurring role for the second season.

Filming Principal photography for the series began on April 8, 2024, and concluded on August 23, 2024, in Toronto, Canada. Filming for the second season began on July 2, 2025 and concluded in early March 2026.

Broadcast Brilliant Minds premiered on September 23, 2024, on NBC. The second season premiered on September 22, 2025. In February 2026, the second season was pulled from NBC's midseason schedule, with The Voice airing two-hour episodes in its place. The remaining episodes of the second season premiered on May 27, 2026.

Reception Critical response The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 88% approval rating based on 17 critic reviews. The website's critics' consensus reads, "Benefitting from a characteristically sharp performance by Zachary Quinto, Brilliant Minds is a medical procedural with brains but also a surprising amount of heart." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 64 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

In November 2025, guest star Eric Dane received praise for his performance as a firefighter battling ALS in the second season episode "The Fire Fighter", his first role since announcing his own ALS diagnosis in April 2025.

Ratings Season 1

Season 2

References

External links