White Collar Revival: Matt Bomer Confirms ‘Very Legitimate’ Talks to Resurrect Series (Exclusive)
Suits isn’t the only USA Network series looking to make a comeback.
There is “very legitimate talk” about a revival of fellow “blue skies” drama White Collar, star Matt Bomer told TVLine on Friday while promoting his Showtime limited series Fellow Travelers.
“There has been talk. It’s actually very legitimate talk, it’s in conversation,” said Bomer, who played White Collar con man Neal Caffrey for six seasons. The actor went on to add that “a lot of things need to fall into place, but there is a plan in effect, at least, so we’ll see what happens.”
But what about about the passing of Willie Garson, who portrayed Neal’s beloved friend and fan-favorite character Mozzie? Garson’s death in September 2021, reportedly after a battle with cancer, presents not only a big loss for the fictional world of White Collar, but also for Bomer, who paid tribute to his friend and former co-star when he died, as well as on the one-year anniversary of Garson’s passing.
“Obviously, that’s the first thing that came to my mind, but I felt that what [creator] Jeff Eastin presented to [star] Tim [DeKay] and I honors what he contributed to the show and honors him as a person,” Bomer shared. “There’s no way I would ever be involved with it again if it didn’t do so. So I think it’s a way for him to, in some ways, still be a part of the show.”
White Collar aired for six seasons from 2009–2014 and followed charming con man Neal Caffrey (Bomer), who was paired with FBI Special Agent in Charge Peter Burke (DeKay) as a criminal informant. In addition to Garson, the cast also included Tiffani Thiessen (as Peter’s wife, Elizabeth Burke); Marsha Thomason (as FBI Special Agent Diana Berrigan); and Sharif Atkins (as FBI Special Agent Clinton Jones). Additionally, Hilarie Burton heavily recurred as Sara Ellis, an insurance investigator-turned-love interest for Neal, while the late Diahann Carroll portrayed June Ellington, a widow who offered Neal her guest room.
The idea of a revival was previously floated in May 2020, with Bomer saying during a virtual cast reunion, “There’s nothing that I would want more than to be on a set with this group of people again.”
20th Television (the studio behind White Collar) had no comment. TVLine has also reached out to reps for USA Network for comment.
now THIS is a reboot i would be here for. White Collar was my covid comfort show, and anything that brings them all back together again would be just what the doctor ordered.
Not a reboot, it’s a revival or continuation.
I was just talking about this with my partner the other day. So easy to bring back, everyone works well together, the loss of Garson makes it hard. A recent rewatch (which led to the conversation) made us realize just how much he contributed to what made the show work.
I recently rewatched it too. Holds up well and is a joy to watch. However the show was really Garsons. He was amazing. It be like rebooting The Three Stooges but only having two of them.
Yes, He was my favorite character. Noone can replace MOZZY🥲🥲🥲
Yes! Now THIS would be a reboot I would actually really look forward to!
Yes! Suits, White Collar…and Burn Notice next??! I miss me some Sam!
Now that Jeffrey Donovan is free, let’s make it happen!
😍😍😍
I’ll join the chorus. This is the reboot I would watch! The show had great writing and great acting. I hope this actually goes through. The loss of Willie Garson makes it tricky, but using Mozzie’s death as the reason Neal returns to the States and is also the reason he and Peter reunite can be a jumping off point. It’s a bit cliche, but cliches become cliches because they work, if done right.
This is a reboot that I would love to see. I love Matt Bomer. Garson was a part of White Collar but not a major part of the show. People sometimes forget their history lessons when certain people die.
Whaaatttt??? He was in every single episode & was the heart & soul of that show…you’re the one who needs a history lesson. 🤦♀️
You can be in every episode and not be a main character. You can be a “side chick”.
That “side chick” was a main character, whether you like it or not…
Being a beloved character does not make you a main character. I am sure his paycheck reflected that he was not a main character.
I’m pretty sure being the 3rd highest billed cast member makes them a main character. Willie Garson was the 3rd highest billed actor on white collar. Only Matt Bomer and then Tim Dekay were ahead of him in the billing order.
White collar was as much about Neal and Mozz as it was about Neal and Peter.
There must’ve been something in the drinking water at USA during their Blue Sky programming days because so many of the different shows cast members are enthusiastic about movies & reboots. I really enjoyed White Collar then & would love to see a reboot & how they’d honor Willie Garson & Mozzie.
The only reboot I’m excited for. The show was so good and helped me through some hard times
I watched every episode of this series and loved every minute of it. I would be THRILLED if it came back. Matt Bomen was the best. Made everything look real and possible. I really hope it returns.
More Neal Caffrey? YES PLEASE! If they cast very carefully and deliberately to find a worthy successor to Mozzie, I’d be OK with it. However, I would want Mozzie (and Willie) to be honored in the new series.
Seriously, make this happen!
Neal comes back to avenge the death of Mozzie and find his killer. Pay tribute to Willie and have him a part of the show but not physically.
I loved loved loved White Collar!! While I would of course miss Willie Garson, and Diahann Carroll, I would love to see it return with the original remaining cast. Wasn’t crazy about Hilarie Burton, however. But I would be thrilled to see a reboot of White Collar.
This show gets a full Series revival talks but Psych keeps edging and teasing fans with “Reunion Movie” after “Reunion Movie” after “Reunion Movie”?! Come on!
Best news I’ve heard in a while! Matt and Tim are the heart of the show so glad to hear they’re on board! Really missed their witty repartee and cat and mouse friendship. This timeless show had it all: great acting, fantastic plots and snappy dialogue. Yes, Willie was important in his role but he was a side dish, not the main course. Please don’t wait too long and let’s get this gem rollinng again!
Nope. There would be no Neal & Peter without Mozzie…he was the true heart & soul of that show. 🖤
Also Mrs. Suit {Tiffany Thiessen) as Mozzie would call her and their now grown son Neal.
I loved White Collar but without Mozzie, I don’t know. Most reboots have been really bad so I think it is best not to do it.
I would TOTALLY watch! I loved this show!
Yes yes yes yes yes!!!
I hear everyone talking about Willie but no one is acknowledging that Diahann contributed to the show success as well and I thoroughly miss both characters as his best friend and landlady even though she was in every episode she was a fixture on the show that shouldn’t be disregarded
When is USA going to admit that dumping the Blue Skies programming was a huge mistake? Yes, not every show was a White Collar, Psych, or Monk, but even the failures are better than whatever repeats they are showing today.
I wonder how things would have looked if NBC had tried these shows on NBC back in the day. Maybe we wouldn’t have Chicago and LAO everything?
Still excited about a possible reboot. White Collar is so fondly remembered because it was still creatively fresh when it ended. Having this break would make even more so.
Would love it but without Mozzie , I don’t know? And Sara Ellis destroyed the show for me. I don’t think I ever disliked a charachter on a show as much as that useless addition to a flawless cast .
There cannot be too much Bomer on TV – and I really miss White Collar, too.
Onboard with this so long as they find a good reason to bring Neal out of hiding and honour Willie Garson’s portrayal of Moz correctly.
😍😍😍
Here’s the logline for my idea: after years apart, Neal and Peter simultaneously and unexpectedly each get half of a mysterious and encrypted message from Mozzie. It’s discovered that Mozzie set up a “dead man’s switch” to send the message in the event of his disappearance or death. Neal and Peter must once again team up, this time to decode the message and figure out what happened to Mozzie. Is Mozzie missing, possibly kidnapped and being held by someone, or is he truly dead? And once decoded, what will Mozzie’s last message lead them to find?
MY GOD THIS IS SOOO BRILLIANT!! & a perfect tribute to Mozzie!!!
They better give u a room at the writers table!
This would be PERFECT, and so in the line of Mozzie’s character. He was always the hidden/behind-the-background-solver in the episodes. Loved IT!!
I would love to see white collar back on our screens it was a great show funny and full of entertainment for all the family.
It is sad that Dianne and Willy have passed away but I’m sure there could be something written about them and even old voices used for telephone calls or old film which wasn’t used for flashbacks of both of those beloved characters…
I look forward to seeing white collar again very soon …