CBS Picks Up 40-Year-Old Rookie Script From Brian Burns (EXCLUSIVE)

Posted by Martina Birk on Sunday, July 21, 2024

Brian Burns, executive producer of CBS‘s “Blue Bloods,” has sold a script for another police procedural to the network, with plans to shoot the pilot early next year, Variety has learned.

Burns told Variety that the series is tentatively titled “40-Year-Old Rookie” and is a father/son story about a former criminal defense attorney who, in order to clear his conscience and be on the right side of justice, becomes a 40-year-old rookie cop working alongside his son in the same precinct. Burns will executive produce, along with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum of The Tannenbaum Company.

“The lead character has a very Jerry Maguire moment and realizes his life is unfulfilling as an attorney despite the money,” Burns told Variety.

Burns has been with “Blue Bloods,” starring Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, and Tom Selleck, since its 2010 launch and written 20 episodes. He’s also one of the writers on the Will Ferrell-Mark Wahlberg comedy “Daddy’s Home,” which Paramount will release on Christmas.

Related Stories

A hand holding up a controller into the air VIP+

Why the Video Game Industry Can’t Shake Its Struggles

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX, (aka JOKER 2), from left: Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, Joaquin Phoenix as Joker, 2024. © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Inside the ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Debacle: Todd Phillips 'Wanted Nothing to Do' With DC on the $200 Million Misfire

Burns has continued to draw on his own life for his projects. His father, Edward J. Burns, was an NYPD sergeant and his brother is filmmaker Edward Burns — and the brothers are married to sisters.

Popular on Variety

Brian Burns’ marriage to Kelly Turlington is part of the inspiration for “Daddy’s Home,” which centers on a stepdad’s life being turned upside down when the children’s biological father comes back into their life. Burns conceived the idea for the film in 2008 while he was dealing with becoming a stepdad.

“I was terrified about it,” he recalled. “I’m very analytical and he’s energetic. It’s surreal how close Will Ferrell came to being me. I’m so super-nerdy.”

His stepchildren are now 21 and 18, and he and Turlington also have two boys, aged seven and five. The entire family plans to attend the Dec. 13 premiere in New York.

“So many children are in blended families now,” Burns added. “Sometimes it really does take a village.”

Prior to working on “Blue Bloods,” Burns wrote and produced for HBO’s “Entourage.” He made his feature film writing and directing debut in 2002 with “You Stupid Man,” starring Milla Jovovich and David Krumholtz.

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXKBjq2taKaVrMBwrtGimKdlkqq%2Fr7%2BMbWdmsZWWv267y51kq6efoLamecKbqmZpYmV%2Bd36Vb2hxZw%3D%3D

CATALOG
    FEATURED TAGS