Spenser fans push for faithful reboot as Tom Selleck eyes Jesse Stone return

As Tom Selleck considers returning as Jesse Stone, fans call for a Spenser revival.

With Tom Selleck reportedly eyeing a return to his role as Jesse Stone, fans of Robert B. Parker’s work are hopeful another beloved character might also make a comeback. Many are now calling for a proper reboot of Parker’s most iconic creation—Spenser.

According to a CinemaBlend feature by Hugh Scott, the news of Selleck’s potential return has stirred renewed interest in Parker’s wider literary universe. While the author penned only nine novels featuring Jesse Stone, he wrote 40 centered on the no-nonsense Boston detective known simply as Spenser. Before his death in 2010, Parker had established Spenser as the heart of his crime fiction legacy.

The character first came to the screen in the 1980s with Spenser: For Hire, starring Robert Urich. The ABC series ran for three seasons and even spawned a spin-off about Hawk, Spenser’s trusted ally, played by Avery Brooks. The show remains a nostalgic favorite for fans of detective dramas.

Later adaptations, however, received mixed reactions. Between 1999 and 2001, Joe Mantegna played Spenser in a series of A&E movies that were generally forgettable. Most disappointing for many fans was Netflix’s 2020 Spenser Confidential, starring Mark Wahlberg. That film took heavy liberties with the characters and storyline, rewriting the backstories of both Spenser and Hawk in ways that strayed far from the source material.

Despite these missteps, Spenser’s appeal hasn’t faded. Authors Ace Atkins and Mike Lupica have continued the series in print, proving there’s still demand for the character. With Blue Bloods ending and Selleck exploring familiar roles, many believe now is the perfect time for a reboot—ideally one that honors Parker’s original vision and introduces a new generation to Spenser’s world.