David Boreanaz is taking over the iconic role of Jim Rockford in NBC‘s upcoming reboot pilot of “The Rockford Files.”
The drama pilot was originally picked up at the broadcaster in January. Rockford is described as a “witty, world-weary and chronically broke private investigator whose charmingly gruff exterior masked a strong moral core.”
Boreanaza takes over the role from the late James Garner, who played Rockford on the original NBC show from 1974-1980 and across six made-for-TV movies on CBS.
The official logline of the pilot states, “Newly paroled after doing time for a crime he didn’t commit, James Rockford returns to his life as a private investigator using his charm and wit to solve cases around Los Angeles. It doesn’t take long for his quest for legitimacy to land him squarely in the crosshairs of both local police and organized crime.”
Boreanaz is best known for his starring roles in the “Buffy the Vampire” spinoff “Angel” as well as for the hit Fox procedural “Bones.” The former show ran for five seasons while the latter ran for 12. Boreanaz also recently starred in the CBS/Paramount+ military drama “SEAL Team,” which ran for seven seasons. He directed episodes of “Angel,” “Bones,” and “SEAL Team,” while he was a producer on “Bones” and an executive producer on “SEAL Team.”
He is repped by CAA, Visionary Entertainment and Felker Toczek Suddleson.
The “Rockford Files” pilot hails from writer and executive producer Mike Daniels. Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman will executive produce, with Chris Leanza co-executive producing. Universal Television is the studio.
There have been various attempts to reboot “The Rockford Files” over the years, including a failed 2009 NBC pilot starring Dermot Mulroney that was produced by Steve Carrell. Universal Pictures also developed a feature film version that was to star Vince Vaughn, though it never moved forward.