In a development long predicted by TV aficionados, the Hawaii-based action series “Magnum P.I.” has been tapped for prime-time resurrection on CBS.
According to Variety and other entertainment media, the task of reclaiming the quintessentially ’80s franchise for the avocado-toast generation has fallen to Peter Lenkov, whose run of successful series reboots includes “Hawaii Five-0” and “MacGyver,” the anchors of CBS’s Nielsen-leading Friday night lineup.
Lenkov, who has acknowledged and confirmed the new project on his Twitter account, will share writing and producing duties with Eric Guggenheim, his co-executive producer, co-writer and fellow showrunner on “Hawaii Five-0.”
CBS is developing the series with Davis Entertainment (“The Blacklist”).
The original series, which ran from 1980 until 1988, revolved around the adventures of Thomas Magnum, a former naval intelligence officer and Vietnam veteran who operates as a private detective in Hawaii. The role made a star of actor Tom Selleck, whose thick mustache and loud aloha shirts became iconic.
Selleck won Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his portrayal. John Hillerman also won an Emmy and Golden Globe award for his performance as Magnum’s uptight foil, Jonathan Higgins.
In the updated “Magnum P.I.,” Magnum is an ex-Navy SEAL who lands in Hawaii after serving in Afghanistan. The new show will reprise the roles of Magnum’s buddies TC Calvin and Rick Wright (originally played by Roger Mosley and Larry Manetti) with Higgins recast as a female ex-MI:6 agent, Juliet Higgins.
This is the second attempt by a network to bring Magnum back to TV.
ABC last year invested in a script for “Magnum,” a series sequel built around Lily Magnum, Thomas Magnum’s long-lost daughter. The character appeared four times in the original series, including the series finale. The series, spearheaded by Eva Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and producer/screenwriter John Rogers (“Leverage”), was not picked up by the network.
Correction: >> Magnum P.I. ran from 1980 until 1988, not 1998, as reported in an earlier version of this story and in Monday’s print edition.
