Why David Boreanaz Is Steering Clear of More Network TV After SEAL Team
David Boreanaz in ‘SEAL Team’ Pablo Arellano Spataro/Paramount+
David Boreanaz has transitioned from one long-running series to another for nearly thirty years and is now seeking a new direction.
“I’d probably shy away from a network series these days,” Boreanaz, 55, shared with TV Insider on Monday, December 30. “It’s mainly due to the time commitment and the volume of episodes that are typically ordered. It really is a lot of work. [However, there have still been] some worthwhile experiences.”
His latest venture was SEAL Team, which concluded in October after a successful seven-season run. While he was ready for new challenges, Boreanaz was uncertain about his immediate future projects.
“I don’t sit down and say, ‘This will be my next project,’” he noted. “I have some truly rewarding endeavors that are currently bearing fruit, which will open up exciting opportunities for me in the coming year. I don’t adopt a mindset of, ‘Well, this is the next series I’m going to do.’”
Boreanaz is focused on choices that “make sense” for his career path.
“I’m clearly at a different juncture in my personal and professional life. Fortunately, I have the chance to consider some excellent offers and evaluate them thoughtfully and maturely,” he reflected on the evolving TV landscape. “I think the prospect of taking on one or two diverse series would be a compelling challenge.”
David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Buffy’ Warner Bros.
Boreanaz gained fame as Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which launched in 1997. After three seasons, he transitioned to lead his own spinoff, Angel, until 2004. He then seamlessly moved on to Bones, airing on Fox from 2005 until 2017, before taking on SEAL Team later that same year.
“I had communicated my desire not to continue with the show. I was done, regardless of the possibility of additional seasons,” Boreanaz recounted to TV Insider in August, revealing he had planned to leave before the seventh and final season. “Then the writers’ strike occurred [in late 2023], which delayed everything by six months, and that decision had already been established.”
Boreanaz shared several reasons for his readiness to move forward: “Physically and mentally, my being aligned with the character had reached a point where it could no longer continue. I felt very sure about my decision, and everything fell into place naturally.”
David Boreanaz in ‘SEAL Team’ Michael Moriatis/Paramount+
Currently, Boreanaz is looking forward to several upcoming projects that have him excited.
“I have some fantastic things in the pipeline that I believe will align perfectly with my plans. Overall, I can mention that I have a couple of very distinct characters on the horizon,” he hinted. “One project is particularly exciting, a passion project.”
Boreanaz elaborated: “One character is somewhat similar but takes a different direction, experiencing a sort of retirement before being called back to action. That’s all I can reveal for now. I prefer to live in the moment and see where the journey takes me. I think people understand that about me.”
