Neal Caffrey is back in action! After years of fan campaigning and speculation, a reboot of the beloved USA Network crime dramedy White Collar is officially in the works, with series creator Jeff Eastin and star Matt Bomer reuniting to bring the slick con man back to screens. Below is everything we know so far about the White Collar reboot.
Is the White Collar reboot officially happening?
Yes, series creator Jeff Eastin revealed at Variety‘s TV Fest on June 6, 2024, that a new version of the police procedural is in the works. “We’re gonna reboot. I’m writing the script,” Eastin said on a panel alongside stars Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, and Tiffany Thiessen.
Who will be in the White Collar reboot?
Bomer, who starred as Neal Caffrey in the original White Collar, confirmed his involvement in the reboot, saying, “I’m in!”. DeKay and Thiessen also raised their hands during the panel, confirming that they will be reprising their roles of Peter Burke and Elizabeth Burke, respectively, in the show’s new set of episodes. Additional casting information are expected to be announced soon.
What can fans expect from the White Collar reboot?
Without revealing specific plot details, DeKay said the script for the White Collar reboot is “fantastic”, as “it answers all the questions that one would have if you watch the show and it would introduce the show to those who haven’t seen it as well. Both edges of the sword are honed.”
The reboot will also honor the late actor Willie Garson, a.k.a. Mozzie in the series, who passed away in 2021. “It honors Willie, too, in a profound way,” DeKay revealed.
“With such sensitivity and such heart,” Thiessen added. “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.”
Why reboot White Collar now?
It’s been almost 10 years since White Collar ended its original six-season run, so why reboot White Collar after all those years? Eastin said he intentionally left things open-ended when writing the series’ conclusion in 2014. And after procedurals started to get a second shot at popularity on Netflix over the past year, rebooting White Collar became a more tangible option.
“If you get to the finale, with Neal [Bomer] walking in Paris, that was always the setup,” he said. “I always left it open, and as the years passed, it seemed more like a distant hope. But say thank you to Suits for starting this streaming trend. They were doing great, and got people watching White Collar now on Netflix. That’s doing really, really good. Off of that, it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s do another one.’”
A "White Collar" reboot is in the works! | Variety TV FYC Fest https://t.co/J9FQpsH0KI pic.twitter.com/sKWOkFlYXI
— Variety (@Variety) June 7, 2024
Where to watch the White Collar reboot
White Collar originally aired on the NBCUniversal-owned cabler USA Network, but because Fox Television Studios handled the show’s production, it’s Disney who now owns the IP. So, it’s likely that the reboot will land on Hulu or other platforms owned by the entertainment giant.
In the United States, all six seasons of the original White Collar TV series are currently streaming on Netflix and Hulu. You can also buy it as download on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies.
What is the original White Collar TV series about?
White Collar centered around the unlikely partnership between Neal Caffrey (Bomer), a charming con man and one of the world’s most talented forgers and art thieves, and Peter Burke (DeKay), the brilliant FBI agent who finally caught him after a long game of cat-and-mouse.
After being sent to prison, Neal strikes a deal to help the FBI solve white collar crimes by working as a criminal informant and consultant. He’s released into Peter’s custody using his con artist skills and unparalleled understanding of ingenious crimes to help the bureau catch other elusive white collar criminals.
The show revolved around this unconventional arrangement as the pair’s professional relationship became a brotherly bond. Neal frequently went undercover to help the FBI, using his skills as a master forger, thief, and all-around scam artist for good. His motives were often dual, as he secretly pursued his long love interest and fellow criminal mastermind Kate Moreau (Alexandra Daddario) as well.
With its slick style, complex capers, bromantic chemistry between Neal and Peter, and overarching mythologies, White Collar blended the procedural format with serialized storytelling over its six seasons.
The series premiered on October 23, 2009 and concluded on December 18, 2014.