One of television's most beloved private investigators is preparing for a comeback. NBC has officially given a pilot order for a contemporary reboot of the classic 1970s series 'The Rockford Files', according to industry reports.
A Modern Take on a Classic Detective
The new series will be a modern revamp of the show that originally starred the late James Garner. Veteran television writer Mike Daniels, known for his work on 'The Village' and 'Sons of Anarchy', is attached to lead the project. The pilot order signals NBC's serious intent to bring Jim Rockford back to the small screen for a new generation.
The logline for the reboot, obtained by outlets like Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, sets the stage: "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."
The Legacy of the Original Series
The original 'The Rockford Files' was a defining show of its era. Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Roy Huggins, it ran on NBC from 1974 to 1980. It featured James Garner as an ex-con turned private eye who operated out of a mobile home parked on a Malibu beach.
The show was both a critical and popular success. It won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1978, and James Garner himself won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1976. The series also boasted a memorable theme song composed by Mike Post. After its initial run, Garner reprised the role for a successful series of television movies that aired on CBS between 1994 and 1999.
Notably, the show served as a training ground for future television legends. David Chase, who would later create the seminal HBO series 'The Sopranos', was a writer on the show for several seasons.
Previous Attempts and Legal Battles
This is not the first attempt to revive the iconic property. In 2009, NBC shot a pilot episode with Dermot Mulroney in the lead role and David Shore as writer. That version did not move forward to series. There were also plans for a feature film starring Vince Vaughn, but those never materialized.
James Garner's connection to the character was profound, but it was also the source of a significant legal dispute. Garner was embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit against Universal Studios over profits from the series. The case took nearly a decade to resolve, concluding with a settlement that reportedly paid the actor more than $14 million.
Garner, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 86, had a storied career beyond Rockford. He earned an Oscar nomination for 1985's 'Murphy's Romance' and starred in notable films like 'The Americanization of Emily', 'Space Cowboys', and 'Twilight'. On television, he later appeared in series such as 'Chicago Hope' and '8 Simple Rules'.
In his 2011 autobiography, 'The Garner Files', he described his no-nonsense approach to acting: "Be on time, know your words, hit your marks, and tell the truth... Acting is just common sense." It was an approach that made Jim Rockford one of TV's most enduring and relatable characters. Now, NBC and Mike Daniels will aim to capture that same magic for a new era.
