Former Bones actor David Boreanaz has been candid about reviving the popular procedural drama, giving one of his most detailed answers yet about the possibility of returning as Seeley Booth. The popular Fox show, co-hosted by Emily Deschanel as Temperance “Bones” Brennan, has long been the subject of a revival, largely due to the chemistry between its two lead stars. While Boreanaz has shied away from reviving Bones in the past, he recently gave a more measured response.
Looking ahead to his career after finishing seven seasons as Jason Hayes on SEAL Team, Boreanaz was asked by Variety about the possibility of returning to revive Bones. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel actor began by reflecting on how much he misses working with Deschanel. From there, Boreanaz said he had reservations about bringing Booth and Brennan back, and he laid out a possible path to reviving Bones.
Boreanaz was then asked why he’d changed his mind about reviving the Fox series, to which he candidly responded that he hadn’t really changed his mind. He said in part: “When I really looked at it, it was the kind of show that was so beloved and so exciting, and I don’t want to say pointless, but it was pointless entertainment when you really think about it.” However, Boreanaz cautioned that a revival would have to be a limited engagement for him to consider it. Read the full exchange below: I miss her sunshine, her smile, she would stretch the boundaries of a scene. I remember showing up on set early one day and I was really upset about something. We argued in a healthy way, but at the same time, we were like, “Okay, we’re not always going to have great days. We’re going to agree to disagree. We’re going to focus on the work.” And I would be able to say, “Emily, you know what? I’m having a bad day. Don’t take it personally.” And Emily would say, “David, I’m having a bad day. Don’t take it personally.
I love you. Let’s move on.” From that moment on, it was great. The great thing about her is that she was so willing to work and be there for you. That’s what I miss about her so much. I don’t think I’ve ever been angry with Emily. It was just a high-energy thing, and I miss her so much. I speak very fondly of her, and we still talk. There’s been talk about stepping back [into those roles] and doing a series somewhere—it’s a show that’s easy to recast. It’s not rocket science, right? It’s something you can jump in and out of, which would be fun. When I was in Quantico and recently the FBI, I was like, “I’m home! Booth’s home!” What you could do and start from there on your own would be cool. I was walking around Quantico and the FBI, and I was like, “Imagine this amazing walk and talk scene here and having to find a dead body where the FBI is. How funny!” So you never know… Like Emily, I was surprised when I heard recently that you wanted to be involved in a Bones revival, just because you’ve spent years saying that you’d rather look forward than go back. What exactly has changed?
Nothing really changed. When I really look at it, it’s the kind of show that’s beloved and self-absorbed, and I don’t want to say it’s pointless, but it’s pointless entertainment when you really think about it. The interaction between these two characters is really fun to play, and if there’s happiness and joy in it, then it’s easy; it’s not going to be hard or difficult. Obviously, [the revival] would be limited. It wouldn’t be this long-winded thing, but working with her would be great. Trust me: It’s not something I’m focused on right now in my life, but it’s the only show that I would consider — and I would say, consider.
Where do you think Booth and Brennan would be now?
Booth would probably be in the spotlight at Quantico, at the FBI, really. We’d have a daughter who’s at least 15, 16. She’d be in college, probably studying tactics, wanting to be an FBI agent, which would drive her mother crazy. And maybe she’ll change her anthropology course and take a forensics class in her degree to become an FBI agent. Who knows?
I think Booth is not really active and is retired, and has to go back to a case, to solve something that happened on FBI property. I think Brennan just keeps writing books and getting awards. She’ll be on the New York Times bestseller list, probably finishing another book tour, and she’s in the middle of a book tour and has to go to the FBI because of this award that I’m getting. And then it all goes wrong with the fans. I can see that, man!
To me, this sounds like the beginning of a great pitch for
