The daughter of the late, greatJames Garnerhas broken her silence onNBC's reboot plans for his iconic '70s PI series,The Rockford Files.
David Boreanazwas recently revealed to be taking on the role of James Rockfordthis pilot season, andGigi Garneris shutting down any opponents by putting her full support behind theBuffy the Vampire Slayeralum—and for most, Boreanaz' sweet gesture toward her
Gigi took to social media after news of his casting broke to share that theBonesstar "was kind enough to share that he was offered the series & thinking about it" before he officially accepted the role. He called Gigi to see how she was feeling about the series being rebooted and gauge her reaction to him stepping into her father's shoes, and it's clear she's on board.
"If anybody can do it, HE CAN!" she wrote on X. "I'm 💯 on board! It is going to be great!"
The Veteran Actor's Thoughtful Gesture Was Incredibly Well-Received
Fans called Boreanaz a "class act" for his obvious care with the role, which swayed many who were on the fence—or even against—the reboot into more positive responses.
"Okay. Him calling you for your blessing, has changed my mind," one wrote, sharing they were "Willing to give him a chance now."
"Okay, knowing that he reached out to you about how you felt about it has just sent my opinion of the man up a LOT," another agreed. "...I'll be watching this show knowing he cared enough to reach out to you. <3."
"The first thing I thought about is how you would feel about it..it looks like that's the first thing he thought about as well. A class move," somebody else complimented.
Some stood firm, though, that "James was one of a kind," and there was no place for a reboot. As one pointed out, "Most of the original Rockford stories don't translate to a world with cellphones and the internet, so they'll have to be very creative to capture the old magic."
Gigi then shared a screenshot of a tweet from the actor sending thanks not only toNBCfor the legendary role, but her and her father, as well, sharing with fans, "David actually thanked my dad, me and NBC 😉."
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It Seemed to Assuage Any Persisting Concerns About the Reboot
"DIDNT believe anyone could work," one admitted. "I was wrong. He works😊👏👏."
"He is perfect to carry the legacy," another declared.
Some remained "skeptical" that a newcomer could "ever live up to [Gigi's] dad," but, as one wise fan noted, "Obviously, it's not going to be the same show, but it's gonna be a re-envisioning of the show."
"David will do a fine job and do it justice," they added with certainty.
The upcoming reboot, should it be ordered to series, will follow the "newly paroled" James Rockford returning to his job as a private investigator, "using his charm and wit to solve cases around Los Angeles," according to the official logline. But, "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 character description goes on to say Rockford is a "witty, world-weary and chronically broke private investigator whose charmingly gruff exterior masked a strong moral core."
The original series, which produced over 100 episodes, ran from 1974 to 1980 on NBC. Boreanaz's strong track record suggests the reboot will likely do the same (asone fan quipped online, "This dude collects long-running network TV series like there's nothing to it, so I guess an advance congrats on your multi-season run, New Rockford Files.").
Garner died at home in 2014 of natural causes. He was 86. Since then, his daughter has maintained a social media account dedicated to his memory, keeping his legacy in the limelight with throwback photos and memories.
Related: '90s Heartthrob David Boreanaz Is Practically Unrecognizable in Shocking Photo of Adolescent Hair Transformation: 'Holy Moly That's You'
This story was originally published byParadeon Feb 15, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.
