Bones is a television series.
Bones is a 2001 American horror film directed by Ernest Dickerson and starring rapper Snoop Dogg as the eponymous Jimmy Bones , a murdered gangster that rises from the grave to avenge his death . Bones is an American crime procedural drama television series that aired on Fox in the United States from September 13 , 2005 , until March 28 , 2017 , for 246 episodes over twelve seasons . Created by Hart Hanson , the series is very loosely based on the life and writings of novelist and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs , who also produces the show . The series is the longest-running one-hour drama series produced by 20th Century Fox Television . On February 25 , 2016 , the series was renewed for a twelfth and final season , consisting of twelve episodes that premiered on January 3 , 2017 .