Hart Hanson, creator of the popular crime drama Bones, has weighed in on the chances of a series revival. Loosely based on the life of author and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs, Bones ran for an impressive 12 seasons with Emily Deschanel as Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan and David Boreanaz as FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth. Since the series wrapped in 2017, both stars have admitted they are open to the possibility of a return to their respective characters.
During the recent show reunion for a WGA picket demonstration, Variety caught up with Hanson to discuss the chances of a Bones revival. The creator suggested that while everyone from the series is still in contact with one another, the possibility of a revival may be complicated due to the unclear rights situation after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox and finding the right story to bring the cast back. Check out his comments below:
We are in contact with each other. Everybody on ‘Bones’ is in contact with each other. At separate times, it’s like, ‘What are you doing? What’s the availability?’ It’s complicated now because Fox broadcast ‘Bones,’ but Disney now bought 20th, so they own [the show]. It would take a million agents and lawyers to figure out who owns what and what platform it would show on. But we do keep talking. And every once in a while, we are all nostalgic enough to think, ‘Maybe we should do it again.’ Who knows? Maybe this will bump-start us. I could see it. I could see it. Of course, it all depends on David and Emily. Without both of them, no. We have heard that they would not be game, which is a step. The actors are going to say the truth, which is it depends on what it is, the scripts, what it looks like, if it feels right. They’re not going to do something just because it’s us.
Has Enough Time Passed For A Bones Revival?
In a world where networks and studios are clamoring to get the most out of their popular IP, series reboots and revivals are becoming an increasingly common pursuit. Whether it be a beloved television sitcom like Will & Grace or a sci-fi drama like The X-Files, audiences have become progressively more accustomed to getting a second chance to return to the fictional worlds they hold dear.
For some shows, however, the gap between the original series and the revival can not only span multiple years, but decades. With Bones only coming to a conclusion in 2017, the six-year time span audiences have already experienced is only a fraction of that which viewers of other shows have had to wait. Moreover, longer waits also often equate to higher levels of audience anticipation.
Alternately, given that the original Bones premiere predates fellow crime show Dexter, which came back with a revival in late 2021, by over a year, now may be an opportune time for the show’s creator and the cast to begin discussions. As Hanson notes, however, any hope for a Bones series revival will largely rest on the willingness and availability of Deschanel and Boreanaz. It would be hard to imagine any revival working without having both Bones and Booth back together.
Source: Variety