First Look at NBC’s Reboot of 1970s Detective Series Reveals David Boreanaz’s SEAL Team Replacement

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David Boreanaz is returning to television after a break since 2024. This is a significant return, as he’s been a popular leading actor since the early 2000s. He first became well-known for playing the vampire Angel in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and his performance led to a starring role in the Angel spinoff, which ran from 1999 to 2004. He then starred in the hugely popular crime drama Bones for nearly a decade (2005-2017). And right after Bones ended, he immediately took the lead in the military drama SEAL Team, where he starred until 2024.

After a long hiatus—his longest in over 25 years of being on TV—David Boreanaz is returning with a new show. It’s a modern update of a beloved classic from the 1970s and 80s, and you can watch a first look right here!

First Look at David Boreanaz in The Rockford Files

David Boreanaz is set to star in NBC’s updated version of The Rockford Files, playing the iconic detective James ‘Jim’ Rockford – a role originally made famous by James Garner. Garner played Rockford in the original series, which ran from 1974 to 1980. The show followed a private investigator who, after being wrongly convicted and imprisoned, sought to rebuild his life while working as a detective and living a modest life in a trailer.

Unlike the typical hard-boiled detectives you see in film noir, Jim Rockford does everything he can to avoid trouble – he’s broke and doesn’t want to get hurt or arrested again. Despite this, he’s a surprisingly effective investigator, known for working cases from his trailer parked on the California coast and for cleverly hiding his gun in a cookie jar.

What is Different About the New Rockford Files?

While NBC and David Boreanaz are sure to make the new version of Jim Rockford their own, early pictures suggest the show won’t keep the original’s famously low-budget lifestyle.

The show follows James Rockford (Boreanaz), a recently released convict who was wrongly accused of a crime. He returns to Los Angeles and works as a private investigator, relying on his personality and intelligence to crack cases. But his search for a normal life quickly puts him in danger, drawing unwanted attention from both the police and the criminal underworld.

A crucial detail of this new series is that Rockford, played by Boreanaz, will be out on parole, not fully cleared of wrongdoing. This adds a compelling layer to the story, as he’s still living under the suspicion of a crime he didn’t commit, creating more possibilities for drama. The writers can explore storylines where Rockford risks returning to jail, or at least has to be extremely careful not to break the terms of his parole while investigating cases.

Alongside James Garner, The Rockford Files features Michaela McManus, Felix Solis, and Jacki Weaver. The pilot episode was penned by Mike Daniels and directed by Greg Mottola, who both also act as executive producers. Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, and Chris Leanza round out the executive producer team.

Currently, The Rockford Files is expected to premiere around early 2027. Join the conversation about all things TV on the ComicBook Forum!

Via: Variety

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2026-05-13 01:15