Could ‘SEAL Team’ Get a Revival? David Boreanaz Talks Chance of Playing Jason Hayes Again
David Boreanaz knew that SEAL Team Season 7 was going to be it.
“The trauma is your first kill. How do you deal with that? Starting the season, it was like, ‘Okay, this is the perfect way to wrap that cycle up for this character,'” the star and executive producer tells TV Insider. “I knew that that was the right way and I knew going in before the writers’ strike that I was done. I had expressed my interest not to do the show anymore. I was finished regardless of even if they wanted to do two more seasons, one more season, I was done. So then the writers’ strike hit and it became six months later and that had already been decided.”
So how did he know that he was done?
“A few things. My body physically and mentally had found a space that was in sync with the character and knew that that would no longer continue,” he explains. “And I just felt like it was something that I was very clear with and it just made sense and it just unraveled naturally. So it wasn’t really a hard decision really to come up with. It just was a natural progression into a special operator, what he deals with, how he goes through certain things.”
Michael Moriatis / Paramount+
He continues, “We looked at Jason’s character as far as being a little bit on the outside. We examined that one season where he was kind of sidelined and he was operating from command with everyone else and it doesn’t fit his character. It’s not in me to put that uniform on and be on the sidelines. And I knew early on when we did that specifically, this is not something I want to continue with, with a character like this being the sidelines. It’s not his personality, it’s not his drive. And I think the way this goes out is a testimony to how true we wanted to shoot this series and actively thinking this could be the one bullet that ends it forever for him.”
That echoes what he’s said before, that the battlefield could be “the ultimate end” for Jason.
When he was previously on the sidelines and not supposed to be managing Bravo, he was still focused on Bravo. “He was,” Boreanaz agrees. “And there’s that. It’s the control of the tip of the spear. Where are you going to go with it? How are you going to maneuver it? Where are you going to put your boys in?”
That goes back to what he loves and respects about his character. “He was a real instinctual guy, operated from his gut. He took chances. He was very impulsive, but he’s always found a way out, which I loved about that character,” says the star. “That is something that I hold near and dear with. I love the fact that it was so exciting to play him, but one thing that was hard to play was the depths of TBI, PTS, the nightmares. That was very difficult for me and I’m just glad that I got through it, did it. And now I can let go.”
Does this mean he’s ruling out playing Jason again in any sort of revival in the future? “I don’t want to give away the end, so he may not be able to do that,” Boreanaz cautions.
Still, he points out that any sort of revival wouldn’t necessarily have to take place after the end of the series. “I think the idea of a film is always on the table because you can shoot these stories at any time, coming off a Black Hawk, it could have been two years prior, it doesn’t really matter. We went back and did a great episode about 9/11, which I thought was just a fantastic tribute to what that was all about and how it motivated these guys to get in to where they were in their profession being operators and sacrifices that they took on. But yeah, there’s always possibilities, I guess,” he allows.
How do you think SEAL Team will end? Would you want to see a revival of any kind after the end of the series?
SEAL Team, Sundays, Paramount+
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O
Don't kill of Jason Hayes. That would be a terrible ending to a great series!
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R
Please!!! Seal Team is the only thing I truly enjoy to watch!! The cast is perfect! Bravo to Bravo!! It gives you a real look at what the teams go through, and fills my heart with pride for our military and our country. I am a Patriot, and this is the very best.
Please, do not cast this aside. We need Jason and everyone back. 🙏🏻
8 1
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R
They are going to kill Jason off, I just know it!! I thought Clay dying was bad enough, but Jason?? Noooooo!!!!!
I have enjoyed every minute of this series and I have binged through it more times than I care to remember. However it ends, thank you for such quality TV and for the respect and love you showed our military.
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R
It would be terrible to kill Jason in this series.i want him to find piece of mind and happiness in some way. I am going to miss this series so much. It had great characters and acting. There was nothing like it on TV. I’m so. Sad it’s coming to a close.
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J
Here's a novel idea - the boys all retire from the Navy (officially) and start a new team (same team) doing black ops for the CIA. They're the best, but they're also expendable. Perfect way to keep the team together and open all kinds of new story lines.
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O
We live Seal Team and Jason!!
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G
Based on what was said in the interview, Jason is probably killed. The series could be extended but without Jason? Not likely. In an other interview, he indicated he would be up for revisiting Bones. In a movie? Stay tuned.
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G
Now that would be awesome revisiting bones bones 12 years running why not it would not be hard on his body mentally but healthy and him and Emily are awesome and I just love love that movie or shows or they can make a great movie between those two I couldn't sworn they were married LOL I didn't watch many seals shows but I did love angel I watch every episode of that backbones that show is number one in my book!!!!!!❤️
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C
Keep SEAL TEAM going. It's a great show!!!
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R
Seal Team is one of the best shows on TV right now!It is showing everyone what the real Seal Teams have to go through and how tough their lives really are.The public needs to be aware of the sacrifices that these people make.
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G
I think Seal Team should stay for at least a few more years, where do we get to see the real deal?? No where but seal team
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G
I LOVE this series & Bravo, including Jason! I hate to think this is the final season!
Maybe Jason takes a little time off to regroup & then Bravo with most of the original team start their own Bravo. Of course do it the Bravo way not always the political way!
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G
I wouldn't mind if Jason lives at the end of the series, but I also wouldn't mind if Jason dies at the end. In a way it would be kind of poetic to have his picture hang next to Clay's--mentor and his mentee who died before him--and all his other brothers who've gone before. I do get the feeling that maybe command will "decommission" Bravo at the end, and I'd be okay with that, especially if Jason dies. Even if Jason retires, I can't see someone else as Bravo 1; Jason was Bravo 1 or when he stepped down, Clay would've taken on that mantle. But Ray's gonna retire once Jason retires or dies, maybe Sonny will leave the SEALS, and neither Brock nor Trent would want to be Bravo 1. That leaves Omar, but he's close to retirement, or the new dude--no way.
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The episode that centered around 9/11 was really well done with the characters back stories. The likeness the actor had to a younger Sonny was remarkable. I'm thinking that there is an opportunity to expand the Seal Team story with these characters if they feel they've reached the end of the story arc.
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G
Seal team is my favorite show period.I wish it didn't have to end.
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