Though the idea of a remake of The Rockford Files didn’t meet with a lot enthusiasm, NBC isn’t giving up.
The original Rockford Files stars Jim Garner as a private eye who struggles to make ends meet and stay out of the way of the law. The new version cast Dermot Mulroney as the lead with Alan Tudyk, Beau Bridges, Alex Fernandez, and Melissa Sagemiller in supporting roles.
The remake pilot wasn’t well-received and NBC passed on ordering it as a series. In May, NBC’s entertainment president, Angela Bromstad, downplayed the quality of the pilot to the press. She said, “We had a very strong pilot, however, to put this new title out there, it has to be A++ and I think we had an A-/B+ pilot and we just want to get it right.”
At the TCA press tour this week, Bromstad told Fancast, “We are actually redeveloping [the series], and we will be reshooting the pilot.” She also said that there would be some recasting for the lead role.
Deadline is reporting that Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey’s Film 44 company will now co-produce the project with Steve Carell’s Carousel (which was behind the Mulroney pilot). House creator David Shore wrote the previous script and will continue as writer/executive producer. There’s no word if the pilot script will be reworked or rewritten.
What do you think? Are you interested in a new version of Rockford Files or should it just be left alone?
I watched the original series religiously with my Dad and brothers, and we still watch it every chance in syndication. I also own it on DVD.
I believe Patrick Warburton would be a more realistic Jim Rockford in this era, it takes less of a pretty boy and a more masculine personality to pull off the character as well as James Garner. Warburton is the right guy!
I used to watch the original as a child with my grandmother. She loved that show. I still do. As the creator of Rockford wanted to see how Brett Maverick would operate in the twentieth century, the show was written specifically for James Garner. He is irreplaceable. It should be left alone.
i agree with montana marie joe flanigan is perfect for the role of jim rockford could carry the role and make it a success