Michael Chiklis opens up about the possibility of The Shield reboot, revealing that conversations have happened for it but expressing his doubts. Created by Shawn Ryan, the crime drama series revolves around Vic Mackey, a corrupt detective in an experimental decision of the Los Angeles Police Department as he and his Strike Team seek to maintain peace in their crime-ridden district. Though largely successful in their efforts, the Strike Team are constantly called into question for their suspicious methods in getting cases solved, including coercing information, staging arrests and taking drugs and money from various busts for themselves.
Chiklis led the ensemble cast of The Shield alongside Catherine Dent, Reed Diamond, Walton Goggins, Michael Jace, Kenny Johnson, Jay Karnes, Benito Martinez, CCH Pounder, David Rees Snell, Cathy Cahlin Ryan and Glenn Close. Debuting in early 2002, the series received critical acclaim throughout its seven seasons, winning the Golden Globe for Best TV Series — Drama in its debut season and Chiklis earning two Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and winning one of each for his lead performance. With the show having ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger, many are holding out hope for a Shield reboot to come at some point, though they may not want to hold their breath.
In honor of the show's 20th anniversary, Michael Chiklis caught up with Entertainment Weekly for an oral history of The Shield. When asked about the possibility of bringing it back in the future, Chiklis confirmed talks have occurred for a Shield reboot, but says the likelihood of it happening are low due to a lack of a proper story angle. See what Chiklis said below:
"We've discussed a reboot, and I know it will probably make a lot of people sad, but it's unlikely. There have been ideas bandied about and maybe Shawn will wake up someday with a eureka moment. But it's so rare to have something go so well over seven years that it's hard to even contemplate. It would be a real bummer to revisit those characters and have it be subpar. I can't tell you how many fans have written me fan fiction of the way they see it. None of them know, but it's flattering that they're still questioning and guessing."
As part of the oral history, creator Shawn Ryan also shared his thoughts on a potential The Shield reboot, similarly putting it in doubt as he felt there was no way that "everything would get wrapped up in a bow" while still remaining grounded to the world he created. Additionally, FX chairman John Landgraf expressed uncertainty of making the gritty crime drama work in a modern setting due to its controversial violence and the unsteady status of the police genre due to recent events. While it could be argued that such turmoil could add for an extra layer of intrigue and tension in a reboot of The Shield, it would require some deft storytelling and ideas, the former of which Ryan doesn't sound to have in mind at the time of writing.
Much of the television landscape today has become dominated by reboots and revivals of iconic properties ranging from Showtime's largely successful Dexter season 8, subtitled New Blood, to HBO's poorly received Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That... FX, who previously was home to The Shield in its seven-season run, has also recently began extending its work into the world of revivals with a new season of Justified in the works with Timothy Olyphant returning as his iconic Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Though Chiklis appears to not be ready to give The Shield the same treatment due to a lack of story drive, it may ultimately be for the best to avoid an underwhelming return as he notes.
Source: EW
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