EXCLUSIVE: The long-in-the-works White Collar reboot is about to hit the marketplace. According to sources, series creator Jeff Eastin, who has been behind the effort to revive the cult USA Network series, will be taking the pitch out in the next week or two.
The project is produced by 20th Television, part of Disney TV Studios. Initially, sibling Hulu was considered the logical home for the followup as it also carries the White Collar library. I hear the Disney streamer opted not to proceed with the reboot, which is now being taken to the open market.
Of the other major players, Netflix would be a natural fit as the platform also has (for the moment) the original series in the U.S., as well as the U.K. and Canada.
The main cast, including star Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay and Tiffani Thiessen are expected to reprise their roles should the series come to fruition even if some are not formally attached yet.
Conversations about a White Collar reboot started in the early months of the pandemic when the cast reunited virtually for charity.
Eastin confirmed last June that the project is in development at 20th TV and last September, he posted an update on X, “It’s coming together,” along with a screenshot of the script, revealing the followup’s title, White Collar Renaissance, as well as the title of the pilot episode, “Masquerade.”
“It’s a fantastic script and it answers all the questions that one would have if you watch the show,” DeKay said back in June, “and it would introduce the show to those who haven’t seen it as well. Both edges of the sword are honed.”
The reboot also is expected to honor the late Willie Garson, who played a major character in the original series. Garson died in 2021.
“With such sensitivity and such heart,” said Thiessen about the reboot script at the same Variety event last June. “I told Jeff after I finished it, I literally was so excited, but at the same time had tears in my eyes — for good reason. You captured the suspense, the thrill, the characters and the love in that reboot.”
White Collar was ran on NBCU’s USA Network from 2009-2014. It was produced by Fox TV Studios, which was absorbed into Fox21 and ultimately into 20th TV.
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