The new Walker, Texas Ranger reboot - currently titled Walker - added The 100 alum Lindsey Morgan in a critical role. The CW show will star Supernatural alum Jared Padalecki in the role of Cordell Walker, a widowed father of two, who returns to Austin, Texas, after several years undercover. The series follows Walker as he tries to reconnect with his children, and investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding his wife's death. Walker has already been ordered to series by the CW and will air during the 2020-21 broadcast season.
The original Walker, Texas Ranger starred Chuck Norris in his most iconic role as a Texas Ranger who specialized in martial arts and lived by a strict moral code. CBS aired the show for eight seasons beginning in 1993, spanning 200 episodes and a television movie, Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire, which aired in 2005. There was even a spin-off while the show was still airing called Sons of Thunder, but CBS canceled it in 1999 after just six episodes.
Variety reports Morgan will play Walker's partner, Micki, "one of the first women in Texas Rangers’ history." Micki is "focused and perceptive," but has faced a lifetime of gender discrimination to get to her current position. This marks a critical change writer/producer Anna Fricke (Being Human) has made to the original concept, as Walker's partner on the CBS show was a man named Jimmy Trevette (played by Clarence Gilyard), a former member of the Dallas Cowboys. Morgan took to Twitter to celebrate the news:
Morgan is best known for playing Raven Reyes on The 100. Like Padalecki's Supernatural, The 100 is also building towards its conclusion and is set to air a series finale in the coming months. Raven began as a recurring character in the first season but quickly evolved into a permanent cast member from season 2 onwards. Prior to that, the 29-year-old had a role on General Hospital, where she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. Nevertheless, a leading role on Walker will be the biggest part of Morgan's career to date.
The CW is making a calculated decision in adding Morgan to the cast alongside an established network star, like Padalecki. The network continues to navigate its most significant upheaval in some time, with Supernatural, The 100, and Arrow scheduled to end in 2020 (Arrow has already aired its series finale). By retaining two lead actors from existing properties, the CW is banking on converting fans of their departing shows to fans of their upcoming ones. It's likely not a coincidence that the CW's other slated new program, Superman & Lois, is being spun off from the Arrowverse, and also happens to star two other actors who have cemented themselves on the network.
Source: Variety