Summary

• A revival of the police procedural show Bones is possible, given its popularity and the trend of television revivals.
• Executive producer Michael Peterson expressed openness to a Bones reunion before the series ended, but there have been no concrete plans since then.
• Cast , including Michaela Conlin and T.J. Thyne, have shown interest in reprising their roles, but scheduling and other factors would need to align for a revival to happen.

the show's 12 seasons. The slow-burn relationship between Booth and Bones was an antagonizing wait that paid off in the later episodes, and a potential revival would undoubtedly have to feature both characters.

Although its series finale aired on March 28, 2017, many, including some who worked on the series, started discussing the possibility of a revival immediately. In this day and age of television, reboots, revivals, reunions, sequels, and so on are all the rage. So Bones returning to the small screen, in any format, would not be a surprise, especially given its popularity during its run. Other cast integral to a Bones reunion would be Michaela Conlin as Angela Montenegro, T.J. Thyne as Dr. Jack Hodgins, Eric Millegan as Dr. Zack Addy, and Tamara Taylor as Camille Saroyan.

Executive Producer Michael Peterson Isn't Ruling Out A Bones Reunion

Peterson Was Ready For A Reunion Immediately

Even before the Bones series finale aired in March 2017, executive producer Michael Peterson was already planning for the future regarding what came next for the Fox procedural series. The writers knew that season 12 would be its last, so they had time to strategize a perfect ending for all the characters. Despite this, in late December 2016, a few days before the season 12 premiere and three months before the last episode aired, Peterson opened up about a possible Bones reunion. He told TVLine:

"I absolutely am not considering this the end. I am in full-on denial. I’ve been working on the show for eight-and-a-half years. It is my family. I adore it here. I don't want to leave. And the idea of having some kind of reunion in a year or two… I would not rule it out."

Unfortunately, Peterson made these remarks several years ago, and since then, there has been little concrete chatter about a Bones revival or a possible season 13. Fox has not unveiled plans to get the gang back together, but the fact that the cast and crew continue to talk about potentially returning means that the spark for a revival might never go out. It seems many who worked on Bones loved their time on the series, so they would be more than willing to sign on for a reunion, whether it is a season 13, spin-off, movie, or something else.

Michaela Conlin Says "Anything Can Happen"

Michaela Conlin Played Angela Montenegro

Michaela Conlin appeared in all 12 seasons of Bones, and the actress has been open about her willingness to reprise her character in a future project. Angela was Dr. Temperance Brennan's best friend and worked at the Jeffersonian Institute as a forensic artist. Her job was to create facial reconstructions of victims and other work-ups of crime scenes, pieces of evidence, and so on, and Angela was undoubtedly the "cool" one of the group at the Jeffersonian in the crime series.

In 2021, Conlin expressed her opinion on a potential Bones revival during an interview with Collider. She said:

"Oh my gosh, I don't know, that's a really good question. Not that I've heard, but I feel like those things usually come together pretty quickly. I think scheduling would probably be the most difficult thing because everybody's off doing other things, but it would really be funny and fun to revisit that I'm sure. I talked to Emily yesterday, and Tamara and John Francis Daley and Michael Grant Terry, all those guys. We're all very in touch, so I'm sure it would just be a question of wrangling everybody together. But who knows? Anything can happen."

Like others who have addressed the possibility of a Bones reunion or season 13, Conlin claimed that she has not heard anything definite about it happening. Of course, the actress would be open to having discussions about playing Angela again, but as she pointed out, schedules have to line up, and the chess pieces have to fall perfectly into place. Everything would have to go right for a revival to work, and unfortunately, many things have to be worked out to ensure that more episodes would feel deserved and warranted.

T.J. Thyne Pitched A Bones Spin-off

T.J. Thyne Played Dr. Jack Hodgins

Michaela Conlin's TV husband, T.J. Thyne has also been candid about his desire to reprise his Bones character. Thyne's Dr. Hodgins was an entomologist, botanist, and mineralogist who worked for Dr. Temperance Brennan at the Jeffersonian Institute in the procedural series. Hodgins was the comic relief of the show, even though his sensitive side would make an appearance from time to time. Hodgins and Angela had an on-and-off relationship throughout the television series, but they eventually worked out their differences and married.

Following the series finale, Thyne revealed that he had pitched a Bones spin-off to the network. According to Renegade Geek, he explained at a fan convention:

"I pitched a spin-off. It didn't go. But the pitch was that Hodgins has all this money. He's made all this money from his experiments, and also Angela found the money that was stolen, the billions. He said to her, 'Give it away. Give it to charity.' But we never saw her do that. So the pitch was that she doesn't. She gives some of it to charity, but they still have their billions. Then, Hodgins starts his own lab, but it doesn't work with the government. He doesn't work hand-in-hand with the FBI, so he hires all the squinterns. They all have their lab together, and we can travel around the country and be hired by people who have money or by local sheriff stations. So we can be doing all different types of stories that doesn't just have to be focused on day in and day out working with the FBI. It didn't go."

Sadly, Fox ed on the spin-off, and the Bones series finale marked the end of Thyne's run as Dr. Jack Hodgins. Of course, with rumors swirling about a potential revival, there is always a chance that the actor could play Hodgins again in a future project. It sounds like Thyne would be thrilled to a Bones reunion, after all.

Bones did have a spin-off series in the form of The Finder, which was canceled after its first season in 2012.

Emily Deschanel Is Remaining Open To A Bones Revival

Emily Deschanel Starred As Dr. Temperance Brennan

Emily Deschanel has expressed that she is keeping the door open for a revival. Deschanel's Dr. Temperance Brennan, the starring forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian Institute, appeared throughout all 12 seasons of the Fox procedural series. If she was not on board for a reunion, there would be no point in producing one. The television show is named after Seeley Booth's nickname for Brennan, after all.

During an interview with TVLine in 2022, Deschanel explained:

"You know, I think it's always possible. David Boreanaz said, 'Nope,' he's not doing it, but never say never for me. I don't know, it's possible, I'd be open, I don't know."

The actress remained somewhat neutral in the quote. But it is clear that if the opportunity felt right and everything fell perfectly into place, Deschanel would consider reprising her role as Brennan in a Bones revival. However, according to Deschanel, the same could not be said for her co-star, David Boreanaz. Thankfully, the actor refuted Deschanel's statement in a later interview.

David Boreanaz Claims A Bones Reunion Is "Realistic"

David Boreanaz Played FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth

A few months after Emily Deschanel addressed the possibility of a Bones revival, David Boreanaz made his own comments about the situation. Boreanaz as Booth was Dr. Temperance Brennan's reluctant partner, who often looked down upon the scientists at the Jeffersonian Institute. He called them "squints," but as time ed, they all earned a special place in Booth's heart. Since Booth and Brennan's relationship was a focal point in the series, a revival would have to include Boreanaz. Thankfully, he's open to the idea.

The actor told The A.V. Club:

"You know, as time progresses, you just don't have that youthful look that you had in your late 20s and early 30s. But then again, [Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer] was a 242-year-old vampire with a soul. That would make him probably, like, 260-something with a soul now. So, I don't know how that would look. Seeley Booth, I think, may be a little bit more intriguing — as far as getting back to see where he's at with Temperance Brennan. And that banter. You just can't beat that. I think that may be more of a realistic approach, as far as I'm concerned."

Whereas Boreanaz feels more reluctant to play Angel, a character he portrayed in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the spin-off Angel, again, the same could not be said for reprising his role as Booth. The actor thinks it is more likely that a Bones revival will happen. Now, fans just have to wait for an announcement.

Creator Hart Hanson Is Hopeful About Returning To Bones

Hart Hanson Is Also An Author And Has Been Writing Novels Since The Conclusion Of Bones

Aside from getting the main stars onboard for a Bones revival, it would also be critical to ensure that creator Hart Hanson held the reins to the reunion. The good news is that the writer seems eager to return to the world of the Fox procedural television show. During an interview with Variety, Hanson said:

"We are in with each other. Everybody on Bones is in with each other. At separate times, it's like, 'What are you doing? What's the availability?' It's complicated now because Fox broadcast Bones, but Disney now bought 20th, so they own [the show]. It would take a million agents and lawyers to figure out who owns what and what platform it would show on. But we do keep talking. And every once in a while, we are all nostalgic enough to think, 'Maybe we should do it again.' Who knows? Maybe this will bump-start us. I could see it. I could see it. Of course, it all depends on David and Emily. Without both of them, no. We have heard that they would not not be game, which is a step. The actors are going to say the truth, which is it depends on what it is, the scripts, what it looks like, if it feels right. They're not going to do something just because it's us."

Although many seem willing to return for a Bones reunion, there is no concrete news surrounding a revival just yet. The rumors are based on the cast and crew's comments about whether they would want to get their old jobs back. Unfortunately, that is not enough to declare that a Bones revival is in the works, but it is enough to give fans hope that it will happen one day.

Bones Season 13 Would Have A Lot Of Questions To Answer

The Original Series Left Some Things Open-Ended

If Bones did return for a sequel series or a season 13, there are a lot of questions that Bones fans would still like to see answered. While some of those questions stem from events in the final season of the show, others are the result of long-gestating fan theories.

Season 12 saw a lot of upheaval for the team like Cam taking a leave of absence after getting married and adopting children. Cam left Hodgins in charge of the lab in her absence, and it would be interesting to see if she eventually returned to run the Jeffersonian, or if Hodgins took on a whole new level of responsibility as the new “king of the lab.” Likewise, just how that decision would affect working relationships between the different staff should be explored.

Angela and Hodgins were expecting a baby before the end of the series as well, and there were concerns about the baby’s health after Angela had been in an explosion and both parents were carriers for a genetic disorder. Whether the new baby would have been born healthy was never answered, but Hodgins and Angela were eager to welcome their newest family member regardless.

One longer gestating storyline that the show would likely want to return to in a potential 13th season would be just how Zack fared after his release from prison. Zack was found to be an accomplice to a notorious serial killer early in the show’s run, having been manipulated into following his orders. Zack, however, didn’t appear to be as much of a monster as the person who manipulated him, but the show went back and forth several times on just how innocent Zack was.

Nearly the entire team kept in with him while he was incarcerated, and it would be interesting to see if Zack was able to successfully reintegrate into society, and whether he would still want to work in the same field - or even be allowed to.

Of course, one of the biggest questions of all would be just how Booth and Brennan’s relationship progressed following their marriage and work balance. As the central characters of the show’s ensemble, and the relationship that built from the very first season of the show, Bones fans would undoubtedly want to see how they’ve grown together.

Sources: TVLine, Collider, Renegade Geek, The A.V. Club, Variety