In a world where revivals and reboots are all the rage, the possibility ofBonescoming back less than a decade after its series finale is quite high, especially when those involved with the original show are on board. Fox’s police procedural drama, created by Hart Hanson,debuted in September 2005 and ran for 12 seasons and 246 episodes before ending in March 2017.Throughout its time on network TV, the series featured the protagonists (Emily Deschanel’s Temperance “Bones” Brennan and David Boreanaz’s Seeley Booth) hunting downhorrificBonescriminals, but the dynamic between the two leads is what made the show so memorable.
Bonesis very loosely based on forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs' life and novels, with Temperance Brennan being named after the protagonist in Reichs' book series. Meanwhile, Emily Deschanel’s Brennan is also a successful crime novel writer inBones, with her books featuring a forensic anthropologist character named Kathy Reichs.
Boneshad an ensemble cast, which included Michaela Conlin as Angela Montenegro, Eric Millegan as Dr. Zack Addy, T. J. Thyne as Jack Hodgins, Tamara Taylor as Camille Saroyan, John Francis Daley as Lance Sweets, and John Boyd as James Aubrey, in addition to Deschanel as Brennan and Boreanaz as Booth. While all the characters are memorable,Booth and Brennan and their relationship areBones.Without Boreanaz and Deschanel,Boneswouldn’t be the success it was,and the two actors would have to be involved if a revival were to happen.
Multiple Key Figures Have Expressed Interest In A Bones Revival
David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, & Kathy Reichs Are Open To Reviving Bones
In early September 2024, Kathy Reichs (the Fox TV show’s inspiration and one of its producers)expressed interest in aBonesrevival after Emily Deschanel and David Boreanazpreviously did. OnX, Reichs quote tweeted a graphic explaining that both Deschanel and Boreanaz are open to returning to theBonesuniverse. The forensic anthropologist/writer/producer wrote, “And so am I!” So, threeBonesalumni who were quite involved with the making of the original series(Deschanel and Boreanaz were also producers)have revealed that they would be on board if a revival was greenlit.
Carla Gallo
Daisy Wick
Since Deschanel, Boreanaz, and Reichs are all interested inaBonesrevival and a possible season 13, a return to the universe of the police procedural drama seems more likely than ever now. Of course, neither Fox nor Disney (which owns 20th Century Fox Television, now known as 20th Television) have commented on or announced a potentialBonesrevival. But with fan intrigue, the original show’s popularity, and the support of Deschanel, Boreanaz, and Reichs,it is seemingly only a matter of time before Booth, Brennan, and co. are back on the small screen.
SEAL Team Ending Means David Boreanaz Is More Available For A Bones Revival
The SEAL Team Series Finale Airs On July 18, 2025
David Boreanaz’s newly opened schedule also makes aBonesrevival even more likely. Only a few months afterBonesended following season 12, Boreanaz moved on to his next project —SEAL Team. The CBS military drama, created by Benjamin Cavell, revolves around the Bravo Team, the most elite unit of Navy SEALs, with Boreanaz’s Jason Hayes as the team’s leader. The show aired for a little over four seasons on CBS beforeSEAL Teammoved to Paramount+for the rest of its run. Now,SEAL Teamis set to end following season 7 in October 2024, officially freeing up Boreanaz’s schedule.
In a world where streaming has become the dominant platform, it would be smart for Hulu (Bones' most likely streaming option) to develop and release aBonesrevival that can answer many unanswered questions.
The only obstacle that might come inBoreanaz’s way would be his reported new TV show.Boreanaz previously teased in June 2024 that he was working on a new series as a writerwith the possibility of starring in and producing it. Not much else is known about the project, including its genre(s), premise, duration (if it’s long-running or a limited series), or if it will even get picked up by a network or streaming service. So, Boreanaz could feasibly work on aBonesrevival with all the available information concerning the future of his career.
A Bones Revival Would Likely Be A Big Hit
Bones Scored High Ratings Throughout Its Run
ABonesrevival is a very real possibilitybecause it just makes sense for a network or streaming service to bring it back. During its 12-year run on Fox, the police procedural series was quite popular and had fantastic ratings. Of course, with any long-running TV show, its viewership totals and ratings declined as the seasons went on. However,Boneswas still consistently successful in relation to its circumstances.Bones' worst ratings came during its final season when Fox moved it to Fridays, which is known as the timeslot where most TV shows go to die.
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Bones, a procedural show about forensics, ran for 12 seasons. Here are 10 unknown facts about Brennan, Booth, and other fan favorite characters.
In a world where streaming has become the dominant platform, it would be smart for Hulu (Bones' most likely streaming option) to develop and releaseaBonesrevival that can answer many unanswered questions. A return to the police procedural drama could also find a home on Fox. Whatever the case, bothHulu and Fox wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) turn down a guaranteed winner inBones.
Should Bones Come Back?
It’s Only Been 7 Years Since Bones Ended
Now, the only question that remains is whetherBonesneeds to be revived. It has only been seven years since Fox aired the lastepisode ofBones, and some may say the show doesn’t need to come back because it hasn’t been that long since it ended. However, as mentioned above,the state of TV in the year 2024 is jam-packed with revivals and reboots.Netflix’sDaredevilis returning on Disney+ seven years after its finale. Netflix has aOne Tree Hillsequel series in the works. Paramount+ broughtCriminal Mindsback only two years after its finale, and so on.
If theCriminal Mindsrevival can thrive on Paramount+ only a couple of years following its ending, one could easily bet that a return to theBonesuniverse would be successful.
Even if some aren’topen to the idea of aBonesrevival, it would be wise for Hulu or Fox to circle back around to the police procedural drama. The show was a massive success, andthe chemistry between David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel is too good to pass up.Ultimately, if theCriminal Mindsrevival can thrive on Paramount+ only a couple of years following its ending, one could easily bet that a return to theBonesuniverse would be successful.
Bones
Cast
Bones is a crime drama series centered around Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian’s Medico-Legal Lab, who, along with Special Agent Seeley Booth, solves murder cases involving severely decomposed remains that defy standard identification methods.
