In a television landscape once dominated by self-contained crime procedurals, Wiseguy broke the mold. Airing on CBS from 1987 to 1990, the show helped usher in a new era of serialized storytelling—years before it became the norm. Now, more than three decades after its finale, Wiseguy is reportedly making a surprise return (according to Yahoo), with a new movie officially in development and original cast member Jonathan Banks set to reprise his role.
A New Breed of Crime Drama
Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo, Wiseguy followed Vincent “Vinnie” Terranova (Ken Wahl), an undercover agent for the fictional Organized Crime Bureau. After serving time in prison to establish his cover, Vinnie infiltrated various criminal enterprises under the watchful eye of his tough, principled boss Frank McPike (Jonathan Banks) and with technical support from “Lifeguard” (Jim Byrnes).
Unlike most crime dramas of the 1980s, Wiseguy broke its stories into tightly written multi-episode arcs, allowing it to explore deep emotional stakes, character complexity and social issues. Standout storylines included Vinnie’s entanglement with crime boss Sonny Steelgrave (Ray Sharkey) and later, the volatile Mel Profitt, portrayed in a breakthrough role by Kevin Spacey.
The show’s ambition, both narratively and structurally, set it apart from its contemporaries and helped lay the groundwork for future serialized hits like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad and The Wire.
Acclaim, Reinvention—and Cancellation
Wiseguy was a critical darling. Ken Wahl’s performance as the conflicted undercover agent earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 1990. Jonathan Banks received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1989 for his work as McPike.
But behind the scenes, the show faced mounting challenges. Wahl’s departure after Season 3—due to reported creative clashes and personal injuries—prompted the introduction of a new character, Michael Santana (played by Steven Bauer), in a final retooled season that failed to capture the same magic. The show was canceled in 1990 after four seasons.
A Cult Classic—and Previous Revival Attempts
Over the years, Wiseguy has maintained a passionate cult following and has been cited by television critics and creators as a forerunner to the prestige drama boom of the 2000s. A 1996 reunion TV movie on ABC reunited Wahl and Banks but failed to launch a rebooted series. In 2011, NBC reportedly developed a new version of Wiseguy with Homeland writer Alexander Cary involved, but that project quietly fizzled out in development.
A New Wiseguy Movie Is in the Works
On May 16, 2025, The InSneider via Yahoo confirmed that a Wiseguy feature film is officially in development from producers Sophie Cassidy and Jeff Katz—the team behind The Pope’s Exorcist starring Russell Crowe. The film will reportedly exist in the same universe as the original series but center on a new lead: a younger protagonist in his late 20s to early 30s described as a “blue-collar James Bond.”
While Ken Wahl is not currently attached to the project, Jonathan Banks will reprise his role as Frank McPike, bringing back one of the series’ most beloved characters. Banks, now globally recognized for his acclaimed work on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, originally played McPike as Vinnie’s no-nonsense handler. His return offers a strong bridge between the original series and the new narrative direction.
The movie is being produced by Cassidy and Matt Crespy for 2.0 Entertainment, Katz for Worldwide Katz, and Tawnia McKiernan for Stephen J. Cannell Productions.
Why Wiseguy Still Matters
In an era when serialized storytelling is now standard, Wiseguy deserves recognition for helping chart the course. Its emotionally driven arcs, morally ambiguous characters and social realism gave network crime TV a new level of depth and intelligence. With the planned movie aiming to blend legacy characters with a fresh hero, the franchise could once again break new ground.
Whether it introduces a new generation to Wiseguy or rewards longtime fans, this revival is one to watch.