Walker: Everything we know about the new CW series so far

Following Supernatural’s finale last year, Jared Padalecki is moving onto a new CW series: Walker. Here’s what we know about the show so far.

Twenty-twenty may have brought the television industry to a grinding halt, but 2021 has plenty of exciting new series in store for us. Among those is The CW’s Walker, a reimagining of the Chuck Norris-led series, Walker: Texas Ranger. The show has already received a lot of attention because of its lead, Supernatural alum Jared Padalecki, who will play Cordell Walker himself.

The Texas ranger’s story promises to bring action and drama to television watchers, poising itself to become one of the network’s new big hits. (A relief, since many of The CW’s popular series have come to an end over the past year, with more saying farewell in 2021.)

So, what do we know about Padalecki’s latest project so far? Let’s dive in.

The Plot

Walker will be set in Austin, Texas, with Padalecki’s Cordell returning to his home after spending two years undercover. A widower, he’s never quite gotten over the death of his wife, a point that promises to create friction between him and his two children upon his homecoming. From the looks of it, his grief may seep into his work life too, especially as he comes to the realization that the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death may be a bit suspicious.

And that’s where the central mystery of the series lies — the heart of the show between Cordell and his partner doing their jobs and solving crimes.

For more about the plot, check out the show’s official synopsis:

"“At the center of the series is Cordell Walker, a man finding his way back to his family while investigating crime in the state’s most elite unit. Our broken widower and father of two returns home to Austin after being undercover for two years for a high profile case – only to discover that there’s even more work to be done at home. In a nod to the original series, Walker and his new partner — one of the only women in Texas Rangers’ history — are the modern-day heroes our world needs, following their own moral code to fight for what’s right, regardless of the rules.”"

Of course, much of the plot will be similar to the 1993 series the series is based on. There are some key differences, however, primarily when it comes to new characters that have been added.

The Cast

When it comes to the casting, Padalecki’s lead role has received the most attention — but he’s not the only CW alum to sign onto this series. The 100‘s Lindsey Morgan will portray Micki Ramirez, Padalecki’s new partner upon returning home, a character created entirely for the reboot. Micki’s character description promises a tough ranger whose presence may address some gender norms over the course of the show:

"“Walker’s new partner who was born and raised in San Antonio. Described as focused and perceptive, her family has been in Texas since before it was Texas. She’s been in the Army and on the police force and knows first-hand what it’s like to be singled out and discriminated against because of her gender.”"

Genevieve Padalecki, Jared’s wife and fellow Supernatural alum, will portray his fictional wife in the series, presumably in flashbacks.

Keegan Allen will play Cordell’s younger brother, a gay man who’s also a conservative — an interesting combo to say the least. Mitch Pileggi and Molly Hagan will play Cordell’s father and mother, Bonham Walker and Abeline Walker, respectively.

Once Upon a Time‘s Jeff Pierre also signed onto the show, playing Micki’s boyfriend, Trey Barnett. According to his character description, Trey has just returned from military deployment and is trying — with some difficulty — to adapt to everyday life in Austin.

Rounding out the major players in the cast is Coby Bell as Captain Larry James, who will lead the Texas Rangers division. We’re given a brief glimpse of him in one of the show’s trailers, and it seems he and Cordell may playfully butt heads a bit.

Trailer

Those following Walker have gotten two trailers for the series so far, both reaffirming what the series and character descriptions have outlined.

The first trailer, which you can watch below, places most of its focus on Cordell’s grief over his wife’s passing — though the end highlights some tension between him and his partner, with Micki offering what looks like some much-needed tough love.

Watch the first full-length trailer for Walker here:

The second trailer, which was released a few days ago, is shorter and places more focus on the Texas Ranger aspect of the series. Watching it, viewers will get a brief glimpse of the crew fighting crime — and although we’re eager to see how things unfold regarding the mystery surrounding Cordell’s wife, it looks like there’s going to be plenty of action to keep us engaged, even when the series isn’t focusing on all the familial drama.

Watch the second Walker trailer here:

Premiere Date

Walker will premiere on The CW on January 21 at 8 p.m. ET right before the third season of Legacies.

Are you planning to watch Walker when it premieres on The CW? Tell us your thoughts on the upcoming series in the comments below.