If I knew the direct answer to Mrrzy's question,
I would submit it now.
When I look up the media coverage of the pilot in particular,
and the press releases about this series in general,
the Ned Nickerson question goes unaddressed.

There are three writers; including a team of two writers
who wrote for CW's Gossip Girl.

Nancy Drew :   Kennedy McMahon
This young actress "recently graduating from Carnegie Mellon last year."
Carson Drew, the widower father:   Freddie Prinze Jr.
Harriet Grosset :      Pamela Sue Martin
"George" (a girl) : Leah Lewis
Nick [not Ned] :   Tunji Kasim
Detective Karen Hunt :   Alvina August   
Bess    :    Maddison Jaizani   

"[The writers,] interestingly enough, have decided to follow the amateur sleuth
before her time solving mysteries
with her usual gang
that are present with her throughout most of the books." (mxdwn)


Actor Tunji Kasim,
whose character may or may not be related to Ned Nickerson,
was in the Meryl Streep film
"Florence Foster Jenkins,"
according to the article.