Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE UPDATED: Fox’s veteran procedural Bones is developing a potential spinoff series built around a character that would be introduced as a recurring on the series this season. Casting for the role is expected to begin shortly. If the Bones producers, Fox and studio 20th Century Fox TV find an actor that they feel can carry a new series, the new character, Walter Sherman, will debut in the episode of Bones episode that starts shooting on December 6 to air in 2011. Hart Hanson, creator/executive of Bones, would also create the potential spinoff, which would be based on The Locator series of two books written by Richard Greener that center on Walter Sherman aka “the Locator”. Walter is described as an eccentric, obstreperous and amusing reclusive man in his late 20s-30s with highly sought after abilities to find anything. He is skeptical of every statement and often asks offensive, seemingly irrelevant questions which oddly enough turn out to be extremely relevant. A former military policeman, Walter knows Agent Booth (David Boreanaz) from their time serving in Iraq together, and the two dislike each other very much. Meanwhile, Dr. Brennan (Emily Deschanel) finds him very intriguing. Walter was injured overseas and suffered brain damage which lead to his honorable discharge, as well as his ever present state of paranoia.

Planted spinoffs have become the networks’ preferred way to spawn new shows from established series. CBS has successfully used the technique on its CSI, NCIS and Criminal Minds franchises. But planted spinoffs not always lead to new series. For instance, the PI character introduced as a recurring on Fox’s hit medical drama House two seasons ago didn’t pan out. The planted spinoff episodes of CW’s Gossip Girl and Lifetime’s Army Wives didn’t get picked up to series, and the planned Prison Break spinoff set in a women’s prison never got past the casting stage. Bones, about a prosaic forensic anthropologist (Deschanel) and a cocky FBI agent (Boreanaz) who team to investigate death causes, has been among Fox’s most reliable performers despite being moved around the schedule a number of times. The series hit the 100th episode mark in the spring and is now in its sixth season.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.