Although CBS will no longer be rebootingCold Case,a different network has found the perfect replacement for the cult-classic procedural.Cold Casefirst aired in 2003 and had a successful seven-season run. Unfortunately,CBS canceledCold Casein 2010, but with recent news that it was bringing the show back. Sadly, it didn’t push through.
Procedurals remain an extremely popular genre of TV.Law & Orderhas numerous spinoffs, as does CBS' ownNCISfranchise. It was a no-brainer forCBS to try to rebootCold Case, given its popularity back in the day. However, some unforeseen circumstances have forced CBS to ditch the project.
CBS Canceled Its Anticipated Cold Case Reboot
Cold Casehad a dedicated viewership when it originally aired in the 2000s. However, there weren’t enough fans for CBS to keep the show on the air as long as other procedurals. For example,NCISalso first aired in 2003, but unlikeCold Case, the military drama is still on the air.
Numerous shows have already been rebooted, such asNight Court,Matlock, andFrasier.CBS intended to extend that trend toCold Case, to the delight of fans of the original series. CBS made the announcement in April 2024 withthe original creator, Meredith Stiehm, set to write the pilot episode.
Tragically,theCold Casereboot was scrappedwhen CBS and Warner Bros. TV failed to negotiate a fair deal. Apparently, CBS wanted additional streaming rights to the original series, and Warner Bros. TV wouldn’t agree with that sticking point. The reboot was officially no more in September 2024.
ABC Is Developing Killer Class — A Show About Cold Cases
Fans ofCold Caseneed not be too disappointed by the reboot’s cancellation. ABC is developing an original drama series that should satiateCold Casefans' appetites.The series is calledKiller Class, and it’s based on a true story.
According toVariety, Killer Classis based on an article from The Tennessean by Keith Sharon about a group of high school students who, along with their teacher, solve decades-old cold cases. The show’s unofficial logline is as follows:
“Killer Class tracks the unexpected formation of a HS Forensics Club that proves shockingly effective at solving real cold cases.”
Based on the limited information we currently have, it sounds likeKiller Classwill explore a similar space toCold Case. The original series is coming at the perfect time, since fans are clearly hungry for crime content but can no longer anticipate a reboot of the 2003 CBS series.
Although it’s disappointing thatCold Casewon’t be returning for new episodes,fans can watch all seven seasons on HBO Max. Since there are 156 episodes of the show, that means there’s plenty of content to watch while waiting for this new series.ABC’sKiller Classhas a prolific teambehind it, so audiences are in good hands.
