Image Credit: Matt Carr/Getty ImagesNBC’s Rockford Files reboot just climbed to the top of my list of most anticipated fall pilots (tied with Wilde Kingdom, natch).
Sources confirm to me semi-exclusively that Firefly/Dollhouse all-star Alan Tudyk has joined the cast of the David Shore-produced remake. He’ll play LAPD sergeant Dennis Becker, the role played in the original by Joe Santos.
As I previously reported, Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding) has been tapped to succeed James Garner as Jim Rockford.
Still to be cast: Jim’s pa, Rocky, and his ex-cellmate, Angel.
Anyone else doing cartwheels over Tudyk’s casting? I can’t be the only one.
That’s great news. Loved Joe Santos on the original. Still wish they’d chosen Joe Flanigan as Rockford but I’ll still watch it. Too much of a Rockford fan not to.
Who is Joe Flanigan?
he was the lead on stargate atlantis, colonel john shepperd
NOOOOOOOOO!!!! Everyone watch the original on HULU, I have a sinking feeling this will end up being a lame CSI-like show like most cop dramas are today. James Garner had charm and charisma – THAT is why the show was great – in addition to great characters like Angel and his attorney Beth.
Love Alan Tudyk, but not enough to make me watch the show. Now, if Joe Flanigan had been cast, I’d have been there with bells on!
DITTO!
No clue what this show is supposed to be, but if he’s in it, I’ll watch it.
Exactly.
That is b/c you idiots don’t know good tv, instead lap up the reality junk and CSI – so sad. Watch Rockford on Hulu, you will see what a truly great show is – I recommend the episode “Sleight of Hand” from season 1 or Rattlers’ Case of ’63 and Drought at Indianhead River from season 3 – those have the hilarious and opportunistic Angel. Also, the first season episodes with Lindsay Wagner were awesome – that includes the pilot and the episode “Whatever happened to Aura Lee”
Here are my all-time favorite Rockford Files episodes:
Irving the Explainer
The Oracle Wore a Cashmere Suit
The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club
Chicken Little Is a Little Chicken
Counter Gambit
Profit and Loss
The Big Ripoff
The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar
White on White and Nearly Perfect
It’s a remake of the 70s show that starred James Garner as a P.I.
Kids today – no sense of TV history! But seriously Melissa, the RF was a classic 1970′s show starring James Garner in the title role. He “was” Rockford. This is on many peoples best list, and it is hard to see how they are going to make it work
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071042/
Now, if only they could drop Dermot Mulroney and replace him with somebody cooler like Josh Holloway. Then all would be right with this show.
AMEN. Actually, I’d rather have Alan Tudyk in the lead. He is such a good actor both doing drama and comedy he really should be the lead in his own show. Not a fan of DM.
me too! wasn’t going to watch it, then AT gets on board and makes it more intriguing
Actually, when I read he was cast, I thought it would be in the Angel role…..I don’t think they can really take advantage of Tudyk’s charm in the Becker role….
As for Rockford, while I like the idea of Holloway, I think he would be, um what do I want to say, brash for the role.. From his more serious work on West Wing and Studio 60, I actually thought Matthew Perry might be an intriguing choice, since the original Rockford used his charm and smile to con people out of information on a case .
Just better have a gold firebird (please, not another time a Mustang takes the place of a Pontiac, like the Knight Rider reboot). Just hope its a 1976 or a 1974, not a 1978.
Yes, Josh Holloway = MUCH cooler. I can just see him as Jim Rockford.
I have no interest in a Rockford remake – it’s blasphemy, really – but I think I could be persuaded to watch the pilot if Josh Holloway were Rockford. Although…I don’t remember Rockford ever taking his shirt off. And if Holloway isn’t taking his shirt off, what is the point?
Damn! Josh Holloway would have been great. As an old Rockford fan, I didn’t think anyone could fill the shoes of James Garner but Holloway would be a strong second.
I reluctantly agree
Good gosh, that’s the best suggestion I’ve heard! You rule, Jeremy. As is, I’m certainly not interested by an unnecessary remake or by boring Dermot Mulroney. I’m very torn since they have cast the unmissable and adorable Alan Tudyk as Dennis. I seriously wish you’d be casting this.
Now there’s a great casting idea. JH would be way cooler & a far better fit than Mulroney as Rockford.
That is brilliant! Can totally see him in the role.
Josh Holloway is a great idea. Dermott Mulroney is handsome but doesn’t seem fun and light. Now, whose going to get the Gretchen Corbett part?
Josh Holloway! I never considered him before, but he’d be great as Jim Rockford. Maybe they’ll cast him as Angel…
Ditto. Except not sure about Josh Holloway. Nathan Fillion would be my first choice but he already has a job. Tudyk as Rockford works too.
I was just thinking no one could live up to James Garner’s Jim Rockford & then you threw in Josh Holloway….PERFECT!! I’d actually watch the remake then. Instead, I’ll stick with the original.
Whoo hoo! Would have much rather had Joe Flanigan in the Rockford role but this is very cool!
agree, Joe would have been my choice for the role.
I honestly don’t see myself watching the reboot without him.
That guy from Stargate:Atlantis? No, he’s horrible. Great looking guy, but there’s no way he could pull off a role like Jim Rockford.
Oh man, I SO disagree with you, JF has the perfect attitude for Rockford. If you think he couldn’t pull off the role, you didn’t see the episode Vegas from Atlantis’ last season.
Very cool.
The problem with Flannigan is that he does not have the build of a guy that can handle himself. Rockford always tried to avoid fighting if he could (part of his great charm) but he could duke it out if he had to.
@Growing Pains Fan
I don’t agree with you about Flanigan. I think he has handled the action/fight scenes well on Atlantis and is a perfect fit attitude wise for Rockford. But water under the bridge at this point. Too bad, I would have watched this show if he had been cast
Now I’m all torn. I think this remake is a horrible idea, but I loves me some Alan Tudyk.
I am with you! But will be sucked into watching it. LOVE Alan
Agreed! Alan Tudyk is awesome.
So nice to see all this Alan Tudyk love. Definitely an actor who should be way more famous.
I am frakkin’ thrilled what Wash or should I say Alpha has major role on a show that I was hoping against hope could be good. Now maybe it can be great!
No offense but Dermot Mulroney does not have the tough but sweet lighthearted personality that James Garner brought to the role.
Finally! And he’s not a villain! Or a guest star! Kudos to David Shore on making his Rockford Files pretty unmissable at this point. Now let’s hope Mr. Mulroney doesn’t completely ruin the rest of the show…
Considering how David Shore has ruined House, I’m finding it hard to muster enthusiasm for this. I love Alan though, so I’d at least watch the pilot should it get picked up.
I don’t think David Shore has ruined House, I think that the formula wearing out has ruined House. I used to love the show, but after this many years of basically the same thing every week, it takes me a while to convince myself to fire up the DVR and watch it.
13 ruined House.
I did not watch House this week until Thursday, really is getting old.
I love Tudyk (in a manly don’t-touch-me way) but Becker? When I saw the tweet, I thought for sure he was going to play Angel.
That’s what I thought too. I don’t think they’ve cast that part yet.
Admittedly, I was surprised by that. He would be a better Angel.
Yeah, you’re right. He would be a better Angel, but he’ll be good as Becker. Good enough, maybe, to make me watch a remake whose mere existence will p*ss me off.
It was already on my list when I saw Dermot Mulroney was going to play Rockford but this just makes it even better.
anyone else mildly bummed that this means either v has been cancelled or that he’s for real dead on it?
I thought he was just a guest on V.
i saw an interview with him where he said he wasn’t going to be on V anymore, so I don’t think this casting hurts V.
I’d prefer him as a lead and after “Tucker and Dale vs. Evil” I think playing a second banana may be ill fitting.
I think I would like this better if Alan was playing Rockford instead of Mulroney.
This. Mulroney’s seriously miscast.
Though I still think they should have cast Joe Flanigan instead.
Totally agree E.
Absolutely.
Agreed – Tudyk as Rockford would be much better. I like Mulroney as an actor – and he’s certainly easy on the eyes – but he doesn’t have the lightness to play Rockford. I’d planned to skip watching altogether (not a fan of remakes), but for Tudyk I’ll at least give it a shot.
I thought Sgt. Becker was around through the whole run of the original series – does this break Alan’s ‘my character’s gotta die’ streak?
I absolutely love Alan Tudyk. He was also great in A Knight’s Tale. I would love to see Ed Asner as Rockford’s dad.
Naw…Stacy Keach would be better as Rocky.
I remember him from that Sandra Bullock film 28 days. Good news to hear.