Scott Bakula is returning to CBS to lead a new untitled detective procedural, marking his first major return to the network since the conclusion of NCIS: New Orleans in 2021. The project is described as a “high-concept” drama set in Los Angeles, positioning Bakula as both the series lead and an executive producer.
The development reunites Bakula with a key figure from his science fiction past. Michael Sussman, who served as a writer and producer on Star Trek: Enterprise, is set to write and executive produce the new series. Sussman’s history with Bakula is extensive; he wrote 22 episodes of Enterprise and produced over 70, including the well-regarded “In a Mirror, Darkly” two-parter that featured Bakula’s character, Captain Jonathan Archer.
A Move to Broadcast for Electric Entertainment
This series represents a significant shift for Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment, which is producing the show. While the company has found success with cable and streaming hits such as Leverage, The Librarians, and Almost Paradise, this untitled procedural marks the company’s first foray into broadcast network television.
The “high-concept” label suggests the show will move beyond the traditional “case-of-the-week” format that defined Bakula’s previous procedural work. Though specific plot details remain under wraps, the Los Angeles setting provides a distinct backdrop compared to the Bayou-centric atmosphere of his former CBS franchise.
Legacy in the NCIS Universe
Bakula’s return to CBS comes at a time when the NCIS universe is actively revisiting his most famous character, Special Agent Dwayne Pride. While Bakula led the New Orleans spinoff for seven seasons as a contemporary peer to Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the upcoming prequel series NCIS: Origins is set to introduce a younger version of Pride. Actor Shea Buckner has been cast to play the younger iteration of the character, exploring the early years of the relationship between the two iconic leads.
The new commitment to a broadcast procedural likely clarifies Bakula’s immediate professional future regarding other fan-favorite franchises. Industry reports suggest that this deal effectively ends the possibility of the long-rumored Star Trek: United revival project. Fans had campaigned for years to see Bakula reprise his role as Captain Archer, but his leading role in a high-priority CBS pilot signals a shift toward new original content rather than a return to the bridge of the Enterprise.
There is currently no confirmed release window for the pilot, as the project remains in the development phase under the creative direction of Sussman and Devlin.
