NBC has greenlit a pilot for a modern reboot of the classic 1970s detective series 'The Rockford Files.' The project, written by Mike Daniels, follows James Rockford as he resumes his private investigator work in Los Angeles after prison.
NBC has issued a pilot order for a reboot of 'The Rockford Files,' the iconic detective series that originally aired from 1974 to 1980. Created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell, the original show starred James Garner as Jim Rockford, a private investigator operating from a mobile home in Malibu. It ran for six seasons, totaling over 120 episodes, and earned acclaim, including the 1978 Emmy for best drama series and a lead actor Emmy for Garner in 1976. The theme song was composed by Mike Post. Garner later reprised the role in eight TV movies on CBS from 1994 to 1999.
The new iteration, penned by Mike Daniels—a veteran of shows like 'Sons of Anarchy' and creator of NBC's 'The Village'—offers a contemporary update. According to the official logline: "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."
Executive producers include Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman, with Chris Leanza as co-executive producer. The project is produced by Universal Television. Daniels is represented by WME and Jackoway Austen.
Previous reboot attempts have faltered, including a 2009 NBC pilot starring Dermot Mulroney produced by Steve Carell and a planned feature film with Vince Vaughn that never materialized. This pilot marks NBC's first formal pickup for the year, with the network planning two to three more dramas and comedies amid a resurgence in traditional pilot development.
