"Magnum P.I." Reboot Focusing on Iconic P.I.'s Daughter Eyed at ABC
by Michael Ausiello
September 22, 2016


Gas up T.C.’s chopper — a "Magnum P.I." reboot is ready for liftoff at ABC.

The Alphabet network is developing a new incarnation of the classic ’80s Tom Selleck-starring detective romp that would center on the title character’s daughter, Lily “Tommy” Magnum (played in six episodes of the original series by child actress Kristen Carreira), Deadline reports.





The potential new “sequel” series — which would be titled, simply, "Magnum" — would find “Tommy” returning to Hawaii to take up the mantle of her father’s PI firm.

Selleck (now on Blue Bloods) is not expected to appear (although should his long-running CBS procedural come to an end this season he’d presumably be available for a guest appearance or two.)





"Leverage" creator John Rogers and Eva Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment (which is based at Universal TV, which owns the Magnum rights) are shepherding the project.

“We knew no one could replace the iconic role of Thomas Magnum, so John decided to make the reboot a sequel and continue the adventure of a Magnum — his daughter, who was established in the original series,” Longoria told Deadline.

http://tvline.com/2016/09/22/magnum-reboot-abc-daughter-tommy/

A reboot/continuation of an old TV series that isn't on that old TV show's original network: Highly Questionable.

Why does any Magnum, P.I. continuation/reboot have to air on ABC? Why can't it air on CBS (Magnum P.I.'s original network) or NBC (the corporate sibling of Universal TV, Magnum P.I.'s production company) instead?

All these reboots of this year seem to be a new trend

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/magnum-pi-reboot-works-at-cbs-1050888

Peter Lenkov, who is behind CBS reboots 'Hawaii Five-0' and 'MacGyver,' is penning the script alongside Eric Guggenheim.
CBS is revisiting Magnum P.I.

The network has handed out a sizable pilot-production commitment to a reboot of the Hawaii-set Tom Selleck cop drama.

The new Magnum P.I. is being written Peter Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim, who also are behind the network's Hawaii Five-0 reboot. (Lenkov, for his part, serves as showrunner on both Hawaii Five-O and the network's MacGyver reboot.)The Blacklist producers John Davis and John Fox will exec produce via their David Entertainment banner. The potential series is a co-production between CBS Television Studios — where Lenkov is based — and Universal Television, with the latter having produced the original series.

The new Magnum is described as an update of the original. It follows Thomas Magnum (Selleck's former role), a decorated ex-Navy SEAL (also like the original) who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. With help from fellow vets Theodore "TC" Calvin and Orville "Rick" Wright, as well as that of disavowed former MI:6 agent Juliet Higgins, Magnum takes on the cases no one else will, helping those who have no one else to turn to. Action, adventure and comedy aside, Magnum P.I. will also explore a brotherhood forged by the trauma of combat, what it means to return home an ex-soldier, and a commitment to continuing to serve while in the private sector.

The news comes as CBS and CBS Television Studios are also home to Selleck, who stars in Friday staple Blue Bloods. The actor is not attached to the Magnum reboot, though given his connection to the network, it's not hard to see a cameo should the drama move forward.

ABC tried its hand at a Magnum reboot last year, with the Disney-owned network's version serving as more of a sequel and revolving around Magnum's daughter. Eva Longoria and John Rogers (Leverage) produced the Universal Television entry.

Originally created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, Magnum P.I. launched in 1980 and ran for eight seasons on CBS.

Reboots continue to remain in high demand this development season as broadcast, cable and streaming outlets look for proven IP in a bid to cut through a cluttered landscape of more than 450 original scripted series. Also in the works this season are reboots of Blue Crush (NBC), Nancy Drew (NBC), Roswell(The CW), The Nice Guys (Fox), True Lies (Fox), The Jetsons (ABC), The Munsters (NBC), Starsky and Hutch (Amazon) and Party of Five, the latter of which is currently being shopped. Key to the remakes is having the original producers involved in some capacity — which Magnum has with Universal — as more studios look to monetize their existing film libraries.

Lenkov, who also scored a second season for his CBS summer drama Salvation, is repped by CAA and Del Shaw; Guggenheim — whose brother Marc Guggenheim is adapting True Lies for Fox — is with ICM Partners.

"Magnum P.I." Reboot Pilot Ordered at CBS
by Nellie Andreeva
Jan. 26, 2018


CBS continues to bet on classic series reboots, giving pilot orders to new incarnations of "Magnum P.I." and "Cagney and Lacey".

CBS had previously shelled out a big pilot production commitment to "Magnum P.I.", an update of the classic 1980s Tom Selleck series set in Hawaii. It hails from Peter Lenkov, CBS/CBS Studios’ go-to writer for rebooting iconic procedurals who has successfully revived "Hawaii Five-0" and "MacGyver", and Davis Entertainment (The Blacklist).





Co-written by Lenkov and fellow "Hawaii Five-0" executive producer/co-showrunner Eric Guggenheim, "Magnum P.I." will feature the same central quartet of characters as the original but, instead of four guys, it will consist of three men and a woman, with Higgins (played by John Hillerman) reconceived as Juliet Higgins.

CBS/CBS Studios took a similar approach with Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick Watson on "Elementary", who became Joan Watson.





The new "Magnum P.I." follows Thomas Magnum, a decorated ex-Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. With help from fellow vets Theodore “TC” Calvin and Orville “Rick” Wright, as well as that of disavowed former MI:6 agent Juliet Higgins, Magnum takes on the cases no one else will, helping those who have no one else to turn to.

Action, adventure and comedy aside, "Magnum P.I." will also explore a brotherhood forged by the trauma of combat, what it means to return home an ex-soldier, and a commitment to continuing to serve while in the private sector.




Lenkov and Guggenheim executive produce with John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment. CBS TV Studios co-produces with rights holder Universal TV.

Original series star Tom Selleck, currently on "Blue Bloods", opted not to get formally on board the reboot but gave the project his blessing.

http://deadline.com/2018/01/magnum-pi-cagney-and-lacey-reboots-cop-drama-chiefs-cbs-pilot-orders-1202270767/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/01/29/a-very-important-post-about-television-revivals/

“There has been a surge in revivals, but that is because there has been a surge in every kind of scripted television programming,” says Daniel W. Drezner, pointing to the record 487 scripted shows (http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/2017-scripted-tv-series-fx-john-landgraf-1202653856/) on television last year, a small portion of which were reboots and revivals. “With this kind of growth,” he adds, “it is not surprising to see a secular increase in all kinds of shows: adaptations from comic books, adaptations from comic strips, dramedies, gritty sci-fi, zombies, doctor dramas, maudlin dramas that don’t like Crock-Pots, brilliant and inventive comedies that defy definition and yes, revivals.” He adds: “I get why critics don’t like this — they have to review all this stuff. But from the consumer’s perspective, it is a mistake to think that a Will & Grace comeback will somehow prevent another Atlanta from emerging. There isn’t a scarcity problem for television in 2018. And for all the laments about the lack of creativity, let me suggest that one of the most original hour of television last year came from a reboot of Twin Peaks.” ALSO: Viewers say stop the reboot insanity! (http://tvline.com/2018/01/29/tv-reboot-trend-remakes-charmed-magnum-pi-murphy-brown-cagney-lacey/)

http://deadline.com/2018/02/new-magnum-p-i-lacey-diverse-broadcast-networks-inclusive-pilot-leads-1202276900/

In addition to pursuing a non-white actor to take on the role of Thomas Magnum, the proposed reboot will replace at least one member of the original all-male team with a woman. Similarly, CBS’ reboot of Cagney and Lacey is planning to cast a non-white actress in the role of Lacey. The CW’s Charmed reboot will also have a diverse cast. “This is part of an across-the-board effort by the broadcast networks this year to have casts that represent the diverse makeup of America,” says Nellie Andreeva. “What’s more, while non-white actors had often been relegated to supporting roles in the past, judging by early buzz, some predict that we may have one of the most, if not the most diverse group of broadcast pilot leads ever.” As Andreeva notes, ABC announced last year that itsThe Greatest American Hero is being reimagined with an Indian-American female as the lead (https://www.tvtattle.com/item/ABC-s-Greatest-American-Hero-reboot-will-star-an-Indian-American-female-eElSB4).

Justin Lin to Direct "Magnum P.I." Pilot
by Nellie Andreeva
Feb. 7, 2018


Fast & the Furious’ Justin Lin will direct CBS’ "Magnum P.I." pilot from Peter Lenkov (Hawaii Five-O), Davis Entertainment (The Blacklist), CBS TV Studios and Universal TV Studios.

Lin and Danielle Woodrow also will executive produce via Lin’s Perfect Storm Entertainment. He previously directed the pilots for "S.W.A.T." and "Scorpion" and serves as EP on both series.

http://deadline.com/2018/02/justin-lin-direct-magnum-p-i-cbs-pilot-reboot-1202280712/

Jay Hernandez Cast as Thomas Magnum in CBS’ "Magnum P.I." Reboot Pilot
by Nellie Andreeva
February 20, 2018


Jay Hernandez (Suicide Squad, Bad Moms) has been tapped to play the lead, Thomas Magnum, in CBS’ drama pilot "Magnum P.I.".

The reboot follows Thomas Magnum (Hernandez), a decorated ex-Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. With help from fellow vets Theodore “TC” Calvin and Orville “Rick” Wright, as well as that of disavowed former MI:6 agent Juliet Higgins, Magnum takes on the cases no one else will, helping those who have no one else to turn to.

http://deadline.com/2018/02/jay-hernandez-cast-as-thomas-magnum-cbs-magnum-p-i-reboot-pilot-1202296505/

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Magnum P.I. aims to revive the P.I. genre (http://ew.com/tv/2018/07/19/magnum-p-i-comic-con-video/)
“We’re trying to reinvent, not the actual show, but the P.I. genre, which has been dormant for a long time,” said executive producer Peter Lenkov, speaking at Comic-Con. “We’re trying to bring that back and trying to make that genre have some big stakes.” Lenkov adds that this is the perfect time for a Magnum P.I. reboot. “If I would have done this show 10 years ago, when we did Hawaii Five-0, it wouldn’t be as relevant,” he said. “At the core of this story, it’s about veterans returning home and reintegrating into society.”

ALSO:

Jay Hernandez on the new Thomas Magnum being Latino (https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/magnum-pi-cast-on-impact-of-latino-lead-1202878632/): "There’s a lot of negativity attached to people of color, so it’s really wonderful and bold and special to have this opportunity to put that imagery to tell stories and to be on TV and to have something up there that is in very stark contrast to a lot of what we’re absorbing on a subconscious level."
A Hawaii Five-0-Magnum P.I. crossover happens in the pilot episode (https://www.tvguide.com/news/magnum-p-i-hawaii-five-0-crossover-cbs/)