Reviving Bones: Creator Reveals Challenges Behind Possible Return

Yep, we all knew it was too good to be true. After years of teasing us with hints about a potential Bones revival, creator Hart Hanson finally came clean about what’s really standing in the way – and truly? It’s enough to make you want to throw your forensic textbooks across the room. One of those heavy ones.

The Bones Cast Wants Back In (And They’re Not Playing Games)

Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz aren’t just politely entertaining the idea of returning to their iconic roles as Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan and FBI Agent Seeley Booth. They’re practically begging for it to happen. During “Bones: 20th Anniversary Retrospective” at the Television Critics Association’s Televerse event, Boreanaz said why a revival makes perfect sense.

Of all the shows, I think Bones is one you can just kind of drop into and have fun with all of us,

He’s got a great point – this isn’t some convoluted mythology series that would require a PhD to understand. It’s Bones. We solve crimes, we banter, we make awkward references to pop culture. Simple.

But Boreanaz went further, painting a picture that actually sounds incredible. He then stated:

What would be really fantastic about it is to see all of us in today’s environment—the political environment, social environment, the mental health environment—and see all of our perspectives and how funny that would be.

Can you imagine Brennan trying to navigate TikTok? Or Booth dealing with modern FBI protocols? Wow. The comedy writes itself.

The Brutal Reality Check That Changes Everything

Now here’s where Hanson crushed our dreams like a fossilized bone under a steamroller. The Bones revival isn’t happening because everyone’s too busy counting money and pointing fingers about who owns what. He said:

Everything has fallen apart and remerged five times since Bones was on the air…Who owns it? Who would put it on their platform or network? In the end, everyone [invested in the series] is going to want a chunk of the money. So doing that could be massively expensive or just not get all the permissions. It’s complicated.

Translation: Disney owns the show now after their Fox acquisition, but getting all the legal ducks in a row would require more lawyers than a corporate merger. And everyone wants their cut.

Why This Timing Actually Sucks More Than You Think

The cruel irony? This is literally the perfect time for a Bones revival, and everyone knows it. Boreanaz just wrapped up seven seasons of “SEAL Team,” so he’s available. Deschanel’s calendar is surprisingly open except for her “Boneheads” rewatch podcast with Carla Gallo. The 20th anniversary is hitting right now, giving them the perfect excuse to bring the gang back together.

And get this – the supporting cast is chomping at the bit too. TJ Thyne (Hodgins) is reportedly ready to jump back in, and when Gallo asked him about a reboot, his response was an immediate “Yeah, I would.” No hesitation, no agent consultations, just pure enthusiasm.

The Streaming Era Should Be Saving Us (But It’s Not)

Here’s what makes this whole situation even more frustrating: we’re living in the golden age of revivals. “Suits” exploded on Netflix and got a spinoff. Half of our favorite shows are getting second chances on streaming platforms. Bones has a devoted fanbase that’s been rewatching episodes on Hulu and keeping the show relevant years after it ended.

But instead of capitalizing on this revival fever, we’re stuck in legal purgatory because corporate acquisitions have turned what should be a straightforward reunion into a bureaucratic nightmare.

What Hanson Really Needs (And Why We’re All Screwed)

Hanson laid out exactly what it would take to make this happen:

What we need is someone—probably at Disney, who owns most of everything—to go, ‘We have to have it.’

That’s it. One executive with enough clout to cut through the red tape and make it happen. But here’s the problem: Disney‘s got bigger fish to fry than a procedural drama that ended eight years ago, no matter how beloved it is.

The Bottom Line Nobody Wants to Hear

Hanson’s comments paint a pretty clear picture. The creative team wants to do it. The cast is ready. The audience is there. But the business side of television has gotten so complicated that even a show as successful as Bones – which ran for 12 seasons and remains Fox’s longest-running scripted drama – can’t get a simple revival off the ground.

It’s not about creative differences or scheduling conflicts. It’s about money, ownership, and corporate politics. Of course. That might be the most disappointing reason of all.

The fact that we’re even having this conversation in 2025 shows just how much the industry has changed since Bones went off the air in 2017. What used to be a straightforward “let’s make more episodes” decision has turned into a legal minefield that would make even Brennan’s most complex cases look simple.

So yeah, keep hoping for a Bones revival. But maybe don’t hold your breath – unfortunately the chance of digging up the rights is slim to none.