David Boreanaz Got James Garner’s Daughter’s Blessing On ‘Rockford Files’ Reboot: “Pure Class”

As David Boreanaz prepares to take on some mysteries and cons as Jim Rockford, he’s keeping the legacy of the original alive.

Gigi Garner, whose late father James Garner originated the conman-turned-detective in The Rockford Files (1974-’80), recently revealed that Boreanaz reached out to her about his casting in the upcoming NBC reboot pilot.

“So, I recently got a call from David Boreanaz,” noted Gigi on X, sharing Deadline’s coverage. “He was kind enough to share that he was offered the series and thinking about it. He wanted to know how I felt about the reboot, etc… If anybody can do it, HE CAN! I’m [100 percent] on board! It is going to be great! #PureClass #Jimbo”

James Garner, who also starred in eight Rockford Files movies on CBS from 1994 to ’99, died at age 86 back in 2014, after suffering a heart attack caused by his coronary artery disease.

The Rockford Files, a contemporary update on the classic series of the same name, comes , producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly and Universal Television.

From writer Mike Daniels, The Rockford Files will follow James Rockford (Boreanaz), newly paroled after doing time for a crime he didn’t commit, as he returns to his life as a private investigator using his charm and wit to solve cases around Los Angeles, with his charmingly gruff exterior masking a strong moral core. It doesn’t take long for his quest for legitimacy to land him squarely in the crosshairs of both local police and organized crime.

While The Rockford Files is set in Los Angeles, the pilot will shoot in Atlanta with additional filming in Los Angeles. It has not been determined where production on the potential series would be based should the pilot get picked up; it’s possible that the show applies for a California tax credit.