Brian Burns, executive producer of CBS’s “Blue Bloods,” has sold a script for another police procedural to the network, with plans to shoot the pilot early next year, Variety has learned.
Burns told Variety that the series is tentatively titled “40-Year-Old Rookie” and is a father/son story about a former criminal defense attorney who, in order to clear his conscience and be on the right side of justice, becomes a 40-year-old rookie cop working alongside his son in the same precinct. Burns will executive produce, along with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum of The Tannenbaum Company.
“The lead character has a very Jerry Maguire moment and realizes his life is unfulfilling as an attorney despite the money,” Burns told Variety.
Burns has been with “Blue Bloods,” starring Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, and Tom Selleck, since its 2010 launch and written 20 episodes. He’s also one of the writers on the Will Ferrell-Mark Wahlberg comedy “Daddy’s Home,” which Paramount will release on Christmas.
Burns has continued to draw on his own life for his projects. His father, Edward J. Burns, was an NYPD sergeant and his brother is filmmaker Edward Burns — and the brothers are married to sisters.
Brian Burns’ marriage to Kelly Turlington is part of the inspiration for “Daddy’s Home,” which centers on a stepdad’s life being turned upside down when the children’s biological father comes back into their life. Burns conceived the idea for the film in 2008 while he was dealing with becoming a stepdad.
“I was terrified about it,” he recalled. “I’m very analytical and he’s energetic. It’s surreal how close Will Ferrell came to being me. I’m so super-nerdy.”
His stepchildren are now 21 and 18, and he and Turlington also have two boys, aged seven and five. The entire family plans to attend the Dec. 13 premiere in New York.
“So many children are in blended families now,” Burns added. “Sometimes it really does take a village.”
Prior to working on “Blue Bloods,” Burns wrote and produced for HBO’s “Entourage.” He made his feature film writing and directing debut in 2002 with “You Stupid Man,” starring Milla Jovovich and David Krumholtz.
