‘American Primeval’ Star Taylor Kitsch Says Playing Riggins In The ‘Friday Night Lights’ Reboot Would Be “Very Unfulfilling”

Alright... either all of the original cast members are getting really good at lying about not being in this Friday Night Lights reboot, or they are doing the reboot all wrong by not bringing any original characters back. In case you missed the news, Friday Night Lights is back. Well, it’s almost back. Actually, it’s rumored to be back. All signs are pointing towards the beloved show being yet another throwback program in the modern age getting the “reboot treatment.” Let's be clear...not all shows need to be revived. Though I would imagine there's a multitude of people that can get behind the return of Friday Night Lights. Variety has confirmed that a fresh take on Friday Night Lights is in the works at Universal Television. However, fans might be disappointed to hear that it’s set to take place in the “same universe” of the original show, but it’s not expected to return any original cast members. So those that were hoping to see fan favorite characters played by Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Gaius Charles, Taylor Kitsch and Jesse Plemons again… it won’t exactly be that. Though the program is expected to bring back some intricate parts of the production, with series show runner Jason Katims and executive producer Brain Grazer returning to tackle the revived football franchise (pun intended). https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1857439551557439686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1857439551557439686%7Ctwgr%5Ea4a5de36a62c0e461800e28f2bcb95e9f0385c14%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whiskeyriff.com%2F2025%2F01%2F08%2Fkyle-chandler-aka-coach-taylor-says-he-hasnt-been-contacted-about-friday-night-lights-reboot-no-calls-nothing%2F The series was inspired by a 1990 novel written by H.G. Bissinger that was also titled Friday Night Lights. And the TV show wasn’t even the first time that book was adapted on screen. Some might also remember FNL being a movie that starred Billy Bob Thornton. I can assure you that you weren’t dreaming that – it was very much a real movie, and arguably opened the door for the show to exist only a couple of years later. The original Friday Night Lights series ran from 2006 to 2011, with the earlier seasons airing on NBC and the later finding a home at AT&T’s The 101 Network. For that aren’t familiar with the program, it closely followed a number of intricate storylines surrounding a high school football team in a fictional town of Dillon, Texas. Kyle Chandler played the iconic Coach Taylor, and some might say his performance in the role made the entire show. Which brings me to what many are echoing as the news of the reboot has spread: Why wouldn't you bring back some of the original characters? Obviously the story of the original Friday Night Lights was great, but the characters were what made the show. And Kyle Chandler has said he hasn't even gotten a call about returning, and now Taylor Kitsch - who played running back Tim Riggins in the show - is saying much of the same. Though he was apparently was at least asked if he was interested in returning. The 43-year-old actor was a guest on the Q with Tom Power podcast, and when he was asked about the reboot, he revealed that the show's creator did reach out to see if he had any interest in playing Tim Riggins again: "There is a reboot. They kicked tires on me, basically (saying), 'Hey are you interested?' I don't know if they've talked to anyone else. And I know Peter Burg is doing it. I haven't really talked to Pete about it. I will not go in and lead FNL or doing any of that... I just think we've done it, right? To go back to Riggs would be very unfulfilling to be honest. I want to keep stretching and keep trying crazy stuff to keep everyone else on their toes. I could play Riggs for another 10 years and get comfortable, but what is that?" During the conversation that the Canadian actor had on Q with Tom Power, he made it very clear that in this part of his career, he wanted to take acting gigs that helped him grow. Kitsch even went as far to say that he views acting as "a service." So that's why he eventually came to the conclusion that it wouldn't make much sense to return to a character that he feels had a story that was already completely told. However, there was one loophole, if you will, that could get him back on the football field. "I'm not doing it. There's no way I'm doing it. If Pete calls and he's like, 'Will you play a coach on the sideline on the other team?' F**k I'll come and have a laugh for a day. Go throw the ball around. But I ain't going back to play Riggs for a season, or two seasons. They know this." Sounds like a cameo could still be on the table? If you are an original fan of Friday Night Lights though, I wouldn't hold your breath. It seems like they are really trying to do something fresh with this reboot, rather than just recycling old characters and playing off the nostalgia factor. All that being said, Kitsch said if they really wanted to get him back for the show, there'd be a way to convince him to return... in the form of a large amounts of money: "I'm for sale. If they want to pay me $10 million an episode, I'll play Riggins in a Scottish accent if they want." Hilarious... everyone has a price. Of course, Taylor is the star of Netflix's new miniseries American Primeval, a gritty and intense new show about settlers in 1850s Utah. Direct by Peter Berg, who also wrote and directed Friday Night Lights, the story is set at the height of Western expansion during a time where pioneers, Native Americans and the Mormon church are all vying for power in the new world... and they'll all do anything to win. Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8WMvCrywYg&pp=ygURYW1lcmljYW4gcHJpbWV2YWw%3D Check out the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/OfbfmtSXhb0?si=CMutTozfXZAz728D