Actor Scott Bakula is officially eyeing a return to CBS to headline a brand-new, high-concept detective procedural. The project is currently in early development at the network. According to reports from Deadline, the untitled project hails from Dean Devlin’s independent studio, Electric Entertainment, marking the company’s first venture into broadcast television.
The upcoming series is written and executive produced by Michael Sussman, who previously collaborated with Bakula as a writer-producer on the sci-fi series Star Trek: Enterprise. Sussman’s television credits also include co-creating Perception, as well as working on The Last Ship and 12 Monkeys. In this new Los Angeles-set detective drama, Bakula is attached to both star in and executive produce the project.
A Major Departure from Dwayne Pride
While character details and an official release date remain tightly under wraps, insiders note that Bakula’s new role is designed to be a significant departure from his iconic character, Dwayne Cassius “King” Pride. Bakula played Pride for seven seasons on NCIS: New Orleans.
Bakula’s connection to the broader NCIS franchise began in 2014, when his character was introduced in a two-part episode of the mothership series NCIS that functioned as a stealth pilot for the New Orleans spinoff. NCIS: New Orleans ran for seven successful seasons before concluding in 2021, making it the first series in the popular franchise to officially wrap its run.
Television Legacy and Upcoming Projects
Over a celebrated career spanning decades, Bakula has cemented his status as a television icon. He earned four Emmy nominations for his starring role as Dr. Sam Beckett in NBC’s classic sci-fi series Quantum Leap, and received a fifth Emmy nod for his performance in the HBO movie Behind the Candelabra. His television resumé also includes starring as Captain Jonathan Archer on UPN’s Star Trek: Enterprise and leading the TNT comedy-drama Men of a Certain Age.
Before his newly announced CBS detective series makes its way to screens, Bakula will next be seen starring alongside Michelle Monaghan in the upcoming Netflix hockey drama series, The Sticks, slated to premiere next year.
What We Know About the Production
- Network: CBS
- Star / Executive Producer: Scott Bakula
- Writer / Executive Producer: Michael Sussman
- Studio: Electric Entertainment (Dean Devlin)
- Premise: High-concept detective procedural set in Los Angeles
As the project remains in the early development stages at CBS, fans of the veteran actor will have to wait for further casting announcements, plot details, and production timelines to emerge.
