A rethinking of the show “Walker, Texas Ranger” which featured Chuck Norris, thinking back to the 90s is set to debut Thursday night on the CW Austin.
“Walker” stars actor Jared Padalecki of “Supernatural” fame as Cordell Walker, a widower and father of two.
A native Texan and current Austinite, Padalecki says he grew up watching the original show with Norris. He clarified the “reimagined” show will be about something beyond law requirement.
“This ‘Walker’ is a family show. It’s more about a family man, a widower, a father, a son, a brother, who happens to be a Texas ranger rather than just a classic, ‘I’m a police officer, and you’re under arrest, and next episode, now you’re under arrest,’” Padalecki said.
While individuals may rush to contrast the reboot with the original, Padalecki says ‘Walker’ is an alternate interpretation of the story.
“We are very much a reimagination, a reimagining, a reboot, more than we are a remake, and so I have the same name Ranger Cordell Walker, and I’m a Texas Ranger, and that’s kind of where the comparisons stop,” Padalecki said.
Austinites will feel right comfortable watching the new show, which features spots in Central Texas front and center. Over half 50% of it was shot in Austin and the surrounding zones.
“We shoot all around town. We have some scenes on South Congress, we have some scenes in north and south of the city, in Dripping Springs, in Driftwood, in Bastrop and Wimberly. We were in Pflugerville the other day,” Padalecki explained.
Padalecki says they simply wanted to feature all that Texas has to bring to the table, including the individuals.
“I wanted to show that there are a lot of us who live here in the great state of Texas and call it home and have for our whole lives, who care about people as people, you know. And back in the day when you would walk down the street and see somebody, you stop and have a conversation and ‘alright, and see you later.’ It’s not as maybe closed minded or protective as people may think,” he said.
Padalecki says he’s glad for the cast and team who met up to get it going.
The show debuts Thursday night at 7 p.m. on the CW Austin.
