Walker star/executive producer Jared Padalecki‘s re-teaming with the CW series’ executive producer/showrunner Anna Fricke is advancing at CBS. The network has given a development room order to the untitled medical drama.
The project, from CBS Studios where Fricke is under an overall deal and Padalecki has a first-look pact, was set up at CBS for development in January.
That is not typically a broadcast buying window but since switching to long-term, year-round development two years ago, CBS has been leaning heaving into off-cycle orders after a lengthy development process that sometimes includes writers rooms.
CBS recently gave a series order to Robert and Michelle King’s legal drama Cupertino starring Mike Colter, which also went through a writers room order after initially being put in development in summer 2024. The network’s current medical drama Watson also followed the development room model.
Stocking up on classic TV drama genres, Cupertino will join CBS’ hit legal drama Matlcok, with the Fricke/Padalecki project looking to join Watson. The network has several entries in the cop (and adjacent) field, most recently hot freshmen Boston Blue and Sheriff Country.
Like Walker, the untitled Fricke/Padalecki project is set in Padalecki’s home state of Texas. Unlike most medical dramas, which take place at big, urban hospitals, it spotlights rural medicine, which is rarely seen on TV. It centers on a headstrong, devoted doctor (Padalecki) who practices his unique style of improvisational medicine alongside his new protégé, a young doctor escaping her past, as they operate a mobile clinic and heal the bodies and souls of their underserved community in the medical desert of rural Texas.
Fricke and Laura Terry executive produce through Fricke’s Pursued by a Bear alongside Padalecki. Genevieve Padalecki also is producing; Padalecki’s former manager Dan Spilo is no longer involved. It is unclear yet whether the project would target the 2026-27 or 2027-28 season.
Padalecki recently recurred on CBS/CBS Studios’ Fire Country with a possibility to spin off his character into a separate series. There has been no movement on that idea, and there have been no plans for the Supernatural alum to return to Fire Country this season.
In addition to headlining and executive producing CW/CBS Studios’ Walker, Padalecki also executive produced the prequel series Walker: Independence, working on both with Fricke who developed the former and co-developed the latter in addition to her services as executive producer on both and showrunner on Walker.
Fricke’s series credits also include 4400, Valor and Wayward Pines.
