‘The Rockford Files’: David Boreanaz Finds Next Role After ‘SEAL Team’ in NBC Reboot
What To Know
- David Boreanaz has been cast as the lead in NBC’s pilot reboot of The Rockford Files.
- Boreanaz will be taking on the role played by James Garner in the ’70s original.
David Boreanaz has a history of long-running shows. He played Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer for three seasons, then on his own spinoff for five. Then he starred as FBI Agent Seeley Booth on Bones for 12 seasons. He followed that with seven seasons as Jason Hayes on SEAL Team, which ended in 2024. Might The Rockford Files be next?
Well, so far, the reboot of the classic series has only received a pilot order, but David Boreanaz has been cast in the lead role. He’ll star as James Rockford, the witty, world-weary, and chronically broke private investigator whose charmingly gruff exterior masked a strong moral core. The original series aired six seasons, from 1974 to 1980, and starred James Garner.
Now, in this new, contemporary take, NBC teases, “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.”
The series comes from writer Mike Daniels, who executive produces with Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman. Chris Leanza is a co-executive producer. The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
When TV Insider spoke with David Boreanaz in December 2024 for the DVD release of SEAL Team‘s final season, another broadcast network show wasn’t on his mind. “I’d probably shy away from a network series these days just because of the time and the amount that’s ordered. It’s just a lot of work,” he’d admitted to us.
But in general, looking ahead to what could have been next for him then, he said, “I don’t sit down and go, ‘That’s going to be the next thing.’ … I don’t sit back and say, ‘Well, this is the next series I’m going to do.’” Rather, he takes a look at if “it makes sense for me and also the character and what I would like to do.”
Gigi Garner, daughter of James Garner, took to social media to share her thoughts on the casting, as well as a personal story about Boreanaz, who reached out to ask for her opinion on the situation. “So, I recently got a call from David Boreanaz,” she wrote on X. “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!”
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 #Jimbo https://t.co/yGvgsGPuTB— Gigi & James Garner (@MavrocksGirl) February 12, 2026
What do you think of David Boreanaz being cast as The Rockford Files lead for the reboot? Let us know in the comments section below.
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B
Loved Rockford Files and love David Borenez so wouldn’t mind seeing a reboot of this series. Better than some of the other series they’ve redone. Believe it make a go. Granted he’s no James Garner but still a really good actor.
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R
Loved him in Seal Team.....love to see him again doing something.........
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B
Could be interesting. They did reboot Magnum PI and it was reasonably good.
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J
And I think the MacGyver reboot is often better than the original.
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J
I’ll give it a go I like David. I loved him in bones and Buffy the vampire slayer.
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.
Are there no original ideas left in Hollywood anymore?
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L
Whenever they do anything original it gets canceled quickly because no one watches.
There was a show on in 2021 called Ordinary Joe. It was about a guy named Joe and it showed three time lines of his life if he had taken a different turn on graduation day. Each episode had a few minutes of one time line, a few minutes of another and a few minutes of the third time line. To understand what was going on you had to pay attention.
Of course, it was canceled after 13 episodes because people don't pay attention to what they are watching because they are on their phones. So it was difficult to understand what was happening.
I really enjoyed it but knew it would get canceled for lack of people paying attention to what was happening.
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S
I watched The Rockford Files religiously. I have watched David Borenez on different series, Bones being my favorite. I just don't know how Mr. Borenez will fare on The Rockford Files. Have to watch and see
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K
I loved the Rockford Files Files, looking forward to it
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G
I remember the Rockford Files quite well. Absolutely loved James Garner! Good looking , funny and could do serious as well. He had it all. This show doesn’t need a reboot. Ya don’t mess with perfection!!
Let’s try something original for a change
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V
YES PLEASE!! Just hope it is going to premiere soon.Never missed an episode of Rockford Files or Maverick because of my love for Jim Garner(seen all his movies also). Also never missed an episode of Buffy, Angel, Bones (which I'm watching reruns now due to lack of anything good to watch) and all of Seal Team episodes. Needless to say if anyone could pull off Rockford Files reboot it can be David Boreanaz. The man shows his care and class by contacting Ms Garner before making his decision to accept the role. He is a great performer just as Jim Garner was. Hope it airs soon and I wish him all the luck, he definitely has my blessings since there is no one else in Hollywood that could carry it off.
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S
There was only one Rockford - James Garner and one Magnum - Tom Selleck. Sorry!
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G
You are so very right!!
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E
When is the pilot going to be shown. I loved James Garner in everything he starred in. I doubt any one can do him justice but like everyone else I would like to see how DB fairs in it.
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J
It's a great idea, but I would have prefered David to have been cast as Jim Rockfords son, rather than the man himself. This would have given some unrosvoled conflect between son and his dead father.
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R
Some how, they have to work in the Pontiac Firebird into the script👍👍
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G
Also loved the original series. David will be great.
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B
Why do they continue to reboot classic shows. Just create something new and interesting. You don’t repaint a modern Picasso.
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R
I've always liked him as an actor. I'm willing to give it a shot
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6
I remember the original Rockford files and loved the show however as much as I really like David, not sure he could do that character with the same humor and capture the essence of Rockford
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