It's been almost two years since David Boreanaz graced our television screens in a new project. Since the October 2024 conclusion of his CBS procedural drama SEAL Team, which later completed its run on Paramount+ for its last three seasons, the veteran TV actor has taken the longest break of his career. But he finally booked a new role that's perhaps his most exciting to date.
Boreanaz has snagged the lead role of NBC's The Rockford Files reboot pilot, starring as the private investigator James Rockford. The role was originated by James Garner in 1974 and the original series ran for six seasons on NBC until its 1980 ending. While the reboot hasn't been picked up yet, the iconic series' comeback looks as good as gold with Boreanaz on board.
The Rockford Files reboot follows a similar setup to that of the original, with Rockford receiving parole after being wrongfully convicted for a crime and serving time. Once free, Rockford settles back into his usual day-to-day as a private investigator in Los Angeles, but in trying to get back on the straight and narrow, his cases find him making enemies of both the cops and organized crime members.
The Rockford Files reboot pilot casts David Boreanaz in leading role
The pilot was written by Mike Daniels, produced by Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly, and comes from Universal Television. Boreanaz's casting makes the potential reboot all the more high-profile, and the chances of the series being picked up to series will remain to be seen after the pilot films in Atlanta, Georgia. Since the series is based in Los Angeles, production could move there if given the green light and the proper tax credits.
Since breaking out in 1997 with his role as Angel in The WB's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Boreanaz has enjoyed steady television work as a series regular for over 20 years. The actor led the Buffy spinoff Angel for five seasons on The WB, producing 110 episodes until its 2004 wrap. He then co-starred with Emily Deschanel for 12 seasons and 246 episodes of FOX procedural Bones as Seeley Booth. After Bones ended in 2017, he starred in SEAL Team later that year for seven seasons and 114 episodes until 2024.
If you do the math on the number of episodes David Boreanaz has starred in as the leading star, it's an impressive and almost unbelievable 470 episodes. Obviously, that's a positive sign for the future of The Rockford Files should NBC finally take the plunge on this reboot attempt. Twice before, Universal gave it a shot with a failed pilot starring Demot Mulroney and a non-starter movie with Vince Vaughn.
Boreanaz appears to have great luck with his television shows, and as both the star and producer of The Rockford Files, there's little doubt that this could be the next massive hit in his long and successful career as a television actor. More details about the pilot are sure to be announced in the coming weeks and filming begins, and fingers crossed for some good news in May.