The Finder is an upcoming American procedural drama television series created by Hart Hanson scheduled to premiere on Fox on January 12, 2012, at 9:00 pm. It is a spin-off of another Fox television series, Bones, with the backdoor pilot having aired as part of its sixth season.

Cast
Geoff Stults as Walter Sherman
Michael Clarke Duncan as Leo Knox
Mercedes Masohn as Isabel Zambada
Maddie Hasson as Willa Monday

Development
In October 2010, it was revealed that Fox was developing a potential spin-off series for Bones that would be built around a new recurring character that would be introduced in the sixth season. The potential spin-off series would also be created by Bones creator/executive producer Hart Hanson, and be based on The Locator series of two books written by Richard Greener. The character of Walter is described as an eccentric but amusing recluse in high demand for his ability to find anything. He is skeptical of everything—he suffered brain damage while overseas, which explains his constant paranoia—and known for asking offensive, seemingly irrelevant questions to get to the truth. Production on the episode was scheduled to begin in December 2010, but was delayed to early 2011 due to creative differences.

Creator Hart Hanson posted on Twitter (in a humorous manner) regarding the notes he got from the network, “I received studio notes on the Bones spin-off idea. They want it to be better. Unreasonable taskmasters. Impossible dreamers. Neo-platonists.” During Fox’s TCA press tour, executive producer Stephen Nathan revealed production on the episode featuring The Locator began in February 2011, with the episode airing in April.

In the episode, the main characters of Bones travel to Key West, Florida, where The Finder is said to take place. Nathan went on to say regarding the casting of character, “You want to find people you want to see every single week do one unique character. That’s why when you have Hugh Laurie, who is essentially playing a very unlikable character, you love to see him. And that is a rare, rare quality to find. And the finder won’t be an unlikeable character, but because it is a unique character, it’s difficult to find just the right person.” Geoff Stults was cast as the lead character with Michael Clarke Duncan and Saffron Burrows cast as the other two lead characters. The three characters were introduced in episode 19 of season 6.

The Finder was picked up for the 2011–12 season on May 10, 2011 with an order of 13 episodes. The series will premiere midseason 2012, airing on Thursdays at 9:00 pm ET, occupying Bones’ timeslot when it is on hiatus.

In May 2011, it was revealed that Saffron Burrows would not appear beyond the backdoor pilot episode, leaving the series. Mercedes Masohn and Maddie Hasson have joined the cast as the two female leads. Masohn will play Isabel Zambada, a Deputy U.S. Marshal; and Hasson will play Willa, a second generation criminal who helps with their investigations.