(Left) David Boreanaz in ‘Bones’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television. (Right) James Garner in ‘The Rockford Files’. Photo: Universal Television.
Preview:
- David Boreanaz will star in a pilot for a new ‘Rockford Files’ series.
- James Garner originated the role of private eye Jim Rockford.
- NBC has high hopes for the new pilot.
As the saying goes, everything old is new again. And in this case, it goes double.
While TV networks had largely abandoned the pilot process, NBC is among those bringing it back on a more limited basis, with one of the biggest around being a new take on private eye drama ‘The Rockford Files’, which starred James Garner in the 1970s.
“This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message, I’ll get back to you.”
Air Date: September 13th, 1974
The new pilot has landed perennial TV stalwart David Boreanaz (‘Buffy’, ‘Bones’, ‘SEAL Team’) taking on the lead role.
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What’s the story of ‘The Rockford Files’?
James Garner in ‘The Rockford Files’. Photo: Universal Television.
The original series saw Garner as a witty, world-weary private eye, and from the sounds of it, writer Mike Daniels is keeping largely to the format.
In the modern show, newly paroled after doing time for a crime he didn’t commit, James Rockford (Boreanaz) returns to his life as a private investigator using his charm and wit to solve cases around Los Angeles, with his charmingly gruff exterior masking a strong moral core.
It doesn’t take long for his quest for legitimacy to land him squarely in the crosshairs of both local police and organized crime.
Does Boreanaz have the Garner family seal of approval?
(L to R) David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Indeed he does! James Garner’s daughter Gigi gave the actor a glowing social media endorsement after Boreanaz called her to ask if her late father would approve him taking on the role…
So, I recently got a call from David Boreanaz.
He was kind enough to share that he was offered the series & thinking about it. He wanted to know how I felt about the reboot, etc…
If anybody can do it, HE CAN!
I’m ? on board! It is going to be great! #PureClass#Jimbohttps://t.co/yGvgsGPuTB— Gigi & James Garner (@MavrocksGirl) February 12, 2026
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