The peacock network has ordered a new pilot for Ironside, a reboot of the detective TV series from the 1960s. It will star Blair Underwood (LA Law, The Event) in the title role.
According to Deadline, the project is being written by Mike Caleo and produced by Universal TV. It “centers on an acerbic, sarcastic detective in a wheelchair (Underwood) who pushes and prods his hand-picked team to solve the most difficult cases in San Francisco.”
David Semel had initially been attached to direct and executive produce but he’s no longer involved. Caleo will executive produce Ironside with Teri Weinberg of Yellow Brick Road, John Davis and Jon Fox. Underwood has had a development/talent holding deal with Universal TV since August.
The original Ironside TV series was produced by Universal and ran for eight seasons on NBC, from 1967 until 1975. The character was first seen in a March 1967 TV movie. Perry Mason’s Raymond Burr played paralyzed Robert T. Ironside, a former San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Chief of Detectives.
A veteran of more than 20 years on the force, Ironside was forced to reture after a sniper’s bullet paralyzed him from the hip down. He later gets himself appointed as a special department consultant with a team of officers assigned to him.
In 1993, Burr and other original castmembers (Don Galloway, Don Mitchell, Barbara Anderson and Elizabeth Baur) came together for a reunion movie, The Return of Ironside. Burr died later that year.
What do you think? Would you be interested in seeing a new version of Ironside? What do you think of Underwood in the lead role? Who should play his team?
is there a DVD OF ALL SEASONS? 1-8?
This “reboot” needed a string leading from old to new. The writing should have taken a very different direction, Blair Underwood should have been written as ‘Ironside’s’ son or grandson writer’s choice.
This new series could have gone so many other ways..too bad.
Roberta
No, that would be an insult to Raymond Burr and the other cast members be.
Yes, I would be interested in seeing this. I loved the original Ironside. If this is as well done it should be a hit. I liked Underwood in other projects that I have seen him in. Jason O’Mara as part of his team? Got to find something for this guy that lasts. I really like him.
This looks interesting, but I wish they’d eventually admit their error and get Law & Order going again.