With Jared Padalecki ending his run as Sam Winchester on Supernatural, the CW has released the first teaser for his next series on the network. As previously reported, Padalecki will be starring as Cordell Walker in the CW’s upcoming reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger, taking over the role originally played by Chuck Norris. Simply titled Walker, the teaser doesn’t give us a look at Padalecki in character, though we can get a peek at his Texas Rangers badge. We can also hear Padalecki tease Walker’s backstory in a voiceover.
“For a long time, I chose duty over family, until one day, that wasn’t an option,” Padalecki says.
The new Walker is written by Anna Fricke, who also serves as executive producer alongside Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore, and Jared Padalecki. In the reboot, Jared Padalecki stars as Cordell Walker, a widowed father who “returns to Austin after two years, attempting to reconnect with his children, navigate clashes with his family, and find common ground with his new partner, while growing increasingly suspicious of his wife’s death.”
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Genevieve Padalecki, Jared’s real-life wife, will also be featured in the CW’s Walker as Emily, Cordell Walker’s late wife. The cast of the reboot also includes Lindsey Morgan as Micki, Cordell’s new partner in the Texas Rangers; Keegan Allen as Liam Walker, Cordell’s brother; Mitch Pileggi as Bonham Walker, Cordell’s father; Molly Hagan as Abeline Walker, Cordell’s mother; Violet Brinson and Kale Culley as Cordell’s children, Stella and Arlo; and Coby Bell as Captain Larry James. Odette Annable will also be featured in a recurring role.
Walker, Texas Ranger was originally developed for television by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. Airing 200 episodes across eight seasons between 1993 and 2001, the show starred Chuck Norris as Cordell Walker, a former marine and martial artist working with the Texas Rangers. Clarence Gilyard co-starred as Jimmy Trivette, Cordell’s partner on the force. A staple of television during its era, the series is also very well-known for its theme song, which warns viewers, “When you’re in Texas look behind you, ‘cause that’s where the Ranger’s gonna be.”
Walker is set to premiere on Jan. 21, 2021 on the CW. Meanwhile, you can catch Padalecki turning in his final performances as Sam Winchester when the CW airs the last two episodes of Supernatural on Nov. 12 and Nov. 19. The new teaser for the upcoming series comes to us from The CW on YouTube.
