Howdy pardners, word has come on the wind that a reboot of CBS' long-moseying 1990saction-crime series WALKER, TEXAS RANGER is in the works with SUPERNATURAL's Jared Padalecki looking to star. The reimagining will be titled WALKER, which has Padalecki also serving as an executive producer on the newly-announced project.
Joining Padalecki on executive production duties for WALKER are Dan Lin (LETHAL WEAPON) and Anna Fricke (WAYWAD PINES, BEING HUMAN). Fricke will also write the series, which is based on the original drama created Albert S. Ruddy & Leslie Greif. According to Deadline, who exclusively broke the news about WALKER earlier this afternoon, the reboot will see Walker taking on a new female partner, for a series that will explore morality, family, and the act of rediscovering our lost common ground. At the center of the series is Cordell Walker (Padalecki), a man finding his way back to his family while investigating crime in the state’s most elite unit. Our broken widower and father of two returns home to Austin after being undercover for two years for a high profile case – only to discover that there’s even more work to be done at home. In a nod to the original series, Walker and his new partner — one of the only women in Texas Rangers’ history — are the modern day heroes our world needs, following their own moral code to fight for what’s right, regardless of the rules. (via Deadline)
For the moment, WALKER is being shopped by CBS TV Studios, though it looks as if Padalecki's SUPERNATURAL home, the CW, will arrive as the victors of the auction. That being said, word has it that CBS, who hosted the original series starring Chuck Norris, are also being considered as a place for WALKER to cool its heels after a hard day on the sand-laden beat.
With SUPERNATURAL ending after its 15th season, fans of the series will no doubt be looking to follow Padalecki onto his next project. This bodes well for WALKER, which could see a tremendous install base thanks in part to Padaleckians wanting more of the rugged actor's smoldering antics on screen. We'll be sure to bring you more information as details about WALKER become available.