‘The Rockford Files’ Reboot Gets NBC Pilot Order As Network Eyes Traditional Pilot Season Return

EXCLUSIVE: A famous PI is plotting an NBC return. The network has given a drama pilot order to The Rockford Files, a reboot of the classic Stephen J. Cannell series starring James Garner which ran on NBC from 1974 to 1980. The project comes from writer Mike Daniels (The Village), producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly (Elementary) and Universal Television.

Bringing back an iconic IP is a high-profile way to kick off the 2026 broadcast pilot season as the first order of this year’s cycle. As networks have pulled away from pilots and moved to year-round development, NBC is looking to bring back an yearly cadence many in the industry miss — greenlighting drama and comedy pilots in January and February and producing them in time for the May upfronts for a spot on next season’s schedule.

It’s still early days but I hear NBC is aiming at making a sizable (by current standards) number of pilots this season — 3-4 dramas and 2-3 comedies in addition to the Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici’s PI comedy, which has a pilot production commitment. (The Rockford Files makes it two PI pilots — a drama and a comedy — at NBC.) If the network hits the high-end of its tally target, that would be the most pilots any broadcast network has done in a cycle since the pandemic.

Written by Daniels, The Rockford Files is a contemporary update on the classic series of the same name. 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.

Daniels executive produces alongside Timberman and Beverly via their Timberlan/Beverly banner, with the company’s Chris Leanza co-executive producing. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

The Rockford Files is among the marquee titles in the Universal TV library, with finding a good, contemporary way to bring it back on the studio wish list. The last major stab at a series remake came a decade and a half ago, also at NBC, with House and The Good Doctor creator David Shore as writer and Steve Carell as producer. It went to pilot which starred Dermot Mulroney in the title role. Universal also developed a movie take with Vince Vaughn attached to star more than a decade ago.

Created by Roy Huggins and Cannell, The Rockford Files starred Garner in the title role as ex-con turned L.A. private investigator Jim Rockford who used his charm, wits and reluctant help from friends to solve cases. The show also starred Noah Beery Jr. as his father, a retired truck driver, as well as Joe Santos, Gretchen Corbett and Stuart Margolin. It received 18 Emmy nominations during its run with five wins, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting awards for Garner and Margolin.

Daniels has a long history at NBCUniversal where he created/executive produced the NBC drama series The Village and also worked on the network’s Shades of Blue, Taken, The Brave and Buff City Law and on Peacock’s Pitch Perfect: Bumper In Berlin and Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.

In addition to CBS’ Elementary, Timberman and Beverly’s TV series producing credits include CBS’ SEAL Team, FX’s Fleishman Is In Trouble, Netflix Unbelievable and ABC’s upcoming RJ Decker.