‘Rockford Files’ Reboot in the Works

It’s time to head back to Malibu.

Deadline reports that NBC has given a pilot order to a reboot of The Rockford Files.

Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Roy Higgins, the original series starred James Garner and ran on NBC for six seasons from 1974 to 1980. It spawned eight reunion TV movies that aired between 1994 and 1999 on CBS. The Rockford Files centered on Garner’s James Scott “Jim” Rockford who is pardoned after serving five years in California’s San Quentin Prison in the 1960s due to a wrongful conviction. He works as a private investigator, with his mobile home also serving as his office in a parking lot on a beach in Malibu.

The new series comes from writer Mike Daniels, producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly, and Universal Television. It will be a contemporary update on the classic series. James Rockford is newly paroled after doing time for a crime he didn’t commit and 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.”

Daniels is executive producing with Timberman and Beverly via their Timberman/Beverly banner. Chris Leanza of Timberman/Beverly is co-executive producing. Universal Television is the studio. As of now, casting has not been revealed, but the project is sure to be a hot ticket as they look for the lead and someone to take on the Jim Rockford mantle.

Along with Garner, The Rockford Files also starred Noah Beery Jr., Joe Santos, Gretchen Corbett, and Stuart Margolin. The new cast will have some big shoes to fill, but it should be interesting to see how they will make it different, including with the stunts. It’s known that the original series was a painful experience for Garner, who performed a lot of his own stunts. In fact, the series was taking such a physical and mental toll on him that he decided not to continue with The Rockford Files, eventually leading to the series’ cancellation.

It’s unknown when more information will be shared for the upcoming pilot reboot, but fans can always watch the original The Rockford Files on Prime Video.