For years, Chuck Norris has been known as the legendary actor that has spawned a million memes, most dubbing him the strongest, manliest badass in the world. Anyone hoping to step into his shoes had better be ready for the inevitable comparisons, which are likely not going to be favorable. Well, it appears that actor Jared Padalecki is up to the task, as he’s signed on to star in a new “Walker, Texas Ranger” series.
According to Deadline, CBS TV is working on a new series based on the “Walker, Texas Ranger” hit show from the ‘90s. The report claims that Padalecki will star in the reboot that will attempt to update ‘Walker’ for a new generation. The actor is said to play Cordell Walker, a Texas Ranger that returns to his home of Austin after being undercover for two years. When he returns, he realizes that his home needs some protecting, as he’s joined by his female partner to help fight crime and protect his two daughters.
As mentioned, “Walker, Texas Ranger” is one of the most iconic shows of the ‘90s, not for its incredible storytelling or thought-provoking episodes. Instead, the series is best known and has become the stuff of legends, thanks to the performance of Chuck Norris. So, despite Padalecki having a legion of fans thanks to “Supernatural,” the actor is inheriting a role that is synonymous with Norris. That’s a tough job for any actor.
“Walker, Texas Ranger” ran for 8 seasons beginning in 1993 and aired a total of 202 episodes and one TV movie. The series has been broadcast in over 100 countries and is up there with the likes of “Baywatch’ as those series from that era that transcended typical viewing habits and become cultural phenomenons thanks to syndication.
There’s no network attached to the “Walker, Texas Ranger” reboot yet, but the report states that CW (the home of Padalecki’s “Supernatural”) is the most obvious home. The reboot follows a recent trend by CBS TV for remaking some of the more macho series from decades past, including “MacGyver” and “Magnum PI.”
