David Boreanaz's reboot of a classic NBC detective series gets official episode count

David Boreanaz is heading back to the world of criminal investigations, this time without the badge. Fresh off his run leading CBS's SEAL Team, the actor is trading military missions for private investigations as he's set to headline NBC's reboot of The Rockford Files. He'll play the role of legendary detective Jim Rockford, originally made famous by James Garner. NBC has already unveiled a first look at the reboot, and now, it's become clearer how the network plans to structure the new series.

NBC appears to be staying largely faithful to the original series regarding Jim Rockford's story. Boreanaz's Rockford is a newly paroled private investigator who was wrongfully imprisoned. After returning to Los Angeles, he quickly resumes his detective work, this time drawing on the network of former inmates he met behind bars to help crack cases. However, his eagerness to prove legitimacy soon lands him in hot water, putting him at odds with both local law enforcement and a dangerous organized crime syndicate. The series will also star Michaela McManus (9-1-1: Lone Star) as Kate, Rockford's ex, who's also an LAPD detective; Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) will play Rockford's trailer-park neighbor and activist, and Felix Solis (The Rookie) as Rockford's confidante, Nitty, who's also a defense attorney.

The Rockford Files reboot has already secured NBC's Thursday 8 PM ET timeslot, a slot that has traditionally served as a strong launching pad for new series. While the network has confirmed a midseason January premiere, it has yet to reveal which Thursday the show will debut. That announcement is expected soon, especially after Boreanaz recently revealed to ScreenRant that the first season will consist of 13 episodes. "We have 13 episodes. We're tackling one at a time. We've got No. 1 in our belt, and we're excited about that," the Bones star said. While shorter than the episode counts of NBC hits like the One Chicago and Law & Order franchises, a 13-episode order has become increasingly common for new broadcast dramas and could likely be expanded if the series proves successful.

What Other New NBC Show is Premiering in the Next TV Season?

The Rockford Files won't be the only new series joining NBC's lineup this TV season. The network is also introducing several other highly anticipated projects, including Line of Fire, a thriller that marks Peter Krause's return to television following his exit from ABC's 9-1-1. Co-starring Hope Davis (Your Honor), the series follows a law enforcement officer who becomes the target of an assassin and premieres Monday, September 21, 2026, at 10/9c. On the comedy side, NBC will debut Newlyweds and Sunset P.I., the latter coming from the creative team behind Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

The Rockford Files is created by Mike Daniels (Ponies) and produced by Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly for Universal Television. Greg Mottola (Superbad) directed the pilot episode. Stay tuned for future updates.