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By Kayla DeKraker
David Boreanaz considers taking on the role of Jim Rockford, reprising the character from the ’70s show THE ROCKFORD FILES, an honor.
“People say that maybe you shouldn’t do it. But come on, how many James Bonds have there been? My attitude is ‘I want to make James Garner proud’ while still doing my own take on the character,” Boreanaz, who is best known for his roles in BONES, SEAL TEAM and ANGEL, said during a promotion for the reboot.
The reboot puts a modern twist on the classic series.
The upcoming series follows Jim Rockford, a man who has been wrongfully imprisoned and is released on parole before returning to work as a private investigator in Los Angeles. As he rebuilds his life, he finds himself caught between law enforcement agencies and organized crime.
“Within two days he finds himself solving a case, and then there’s an even bigger case where people are after him, like the Mob and conmen, who he’s been involved with in the past,” said Boreanaz. “What I love about him is that he always gets the job done.”
Related: NBC Reboots THE ROCKFORD FILES, with This SEAL TEAM Star in Titular Role
He continued, “It’s got the iconic car and Rockford still lives in a trailer home, and in a lot of ways parts of Malibu still feel as though you’re in the 1970s. The scripts do a really great job of balancing that nostalgia with a fresh take.”
The original ROCKFORD FILES ended suddenly in 1980 when star James Garner stopped due to health issues. Universal Studios, in turn, sued the actor, a battle which did not get settled until nearly a decade later.
NBC announced the series last month.
“He’s back on the streets and back in the crosshairs. THE ROCKFORD FILES | Premiering in January on NBC and Peacock,” the studio wrote in the caption of an Instagram post alongside a snap of Boreanaz as the titular character.
“So good! Looking forward to watching you embody this personally beloved character!” one fan commented. Another wrote, “Yes! HE is so Jim Rockford!”
But before he took on the iconic role, Boreanaz wanted the permission of the later Garner’s daughter, Gigi.
“I said, ‘Listen, I’m not here to imitate your father. Your father’s an icon, he’s an inspiration, he’s his own thing.’ She gave me one [set] of his worry beads that he would hold in his movies and shows. That was a big moment,” he told Deadline.
The series will begin filming in October, with a January premiere date.
Read Next: A New Show Might Be in the Works From SEAL TEAM’s David Boreanaz
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