NBC Picks Up Drama Pilots for 2026–2027 Season, Renews Key Franchises
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NBC has selected two new drama pilots for the 2026–2027 broadcast season: a reboot of 'The Rockford Files' starring David Boreanaz and the law enforcement series 'Line of Fire'. The network also renewed its core drama franchises, including 'Law & Order' and the 'Chicago' series, and picked up two new comedies. The moves signal a focus on established brands and new ensemble stories for the upcoming programming slate.
Facts First
- NBC picks up two drama pilots: the rebooted 'The Rockford Files' and the new series 'Line of Fire'.
- David Boreanaz will star as James Rockford in the reboot, succeeding the late James Garner.
- Core drama franchises renewed include 'Law & Order', 'SVU', and all three 'Chicago' series.
- Three other drama pilots were not selected for the season, including projects starring Emily Deschanel and Taylor Schilling.
- Two new comedies, 'Sunset PI' and 'Newlyweds', were also picked up alongside renewals for three existing comedies.
What Happened
NBC has chosen two drama pilots to move forward for the 2026–2027 broadcast season: a reboot of 'The Rockford Files' and the new series 'Line of Fire'. The 'The Rockford Files' reboot stars David Boreanaz as James Rockford, a newly paroled private investigator in Los Angeles. The pilot is written by Mike Daniels and directed by Greg Mottola. 'Line of Fire' follows a family of federal law enforcement agents navigating a conspiracy. Both shows are produced by Universal Television. NBC did not select three other drama pilots in contention: 'Key Witness', 'What The Dead Know', and 'Puzzled'. The network also picked up two new comedy series, 'Sunset PI' and 'Newlyweds', and renewed three existing comedies and five long-running drama series, including 'Law & Order', 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU)', 'Chicago Med', 'Chicago Fire', and 'Chicago P.D.'.
Why this Matters to You
If you enjoy network television dramas, you may have two new shows to look forward to next fall, including a fresh take on a classic detective series. The renewal of popular franchises like 'Law & Order' and the 'Chicago' series means familiar programming will continue to be available. For comedy viewers, the pickup of new series and renewals of existing ones could offer more options. These decisions by NBC executives like Chairman Pearlena Igbokwe and creative lead Lisa Katz will shape the network's prime-time lineup that you browse.
What's Next
Production on the pilots for 'The Rockford Files' and 'Line of Fire' is likely to proceed, with their ultimate series orders depending on the finished products. The renewed series will begin production on new seasons. The full schedule for the 2026–2027 season, including where these new and returning shows will be placed, is expected to be announced later.