The “MacGyver” reboot has landed a formal pilot order at CBS, along with “Bull,” a drama based on the early career of Dr. Phil, Variety has learned.
“MacGyver” is a reimagining of the 1980’s television series of the same name, following a 20-something MacGyver as he gets recruited into a clandestine organization where he uses his knack for solving problems in unconventional ways to help prevent disasters from happening.
Written by Paul Downs Colaizzo, original exec producer Henry Winkler is attached to the new potential series as an EP, along with Michael Clear. James Wan (“Saw” franchise, “Furious 7”) is attached to direct the pilot and will also serve as an exec producer. CBS Television Studios will produce.
CBS also ordered a drama pilot for “Bull,” which is based on the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, before he was a talk show host and during his days as head of one of the most prolific trial consulting services of all time.
Co-written by McGraw and Paul Attanasio, CBS TV Studios is also behind this pilot. Amblin Television’s Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank will serve as exec producers, along with McGraw’s son Jay McGraw who will produce via their Stage 29 Productions banner.
First put into development this past October, “MacGyver” was said to be a high priority for the network, which is also rebooting Nancy Drew with a younger, diverse twist this pilot season. Revivals are becoming a trend for CBS, as the net also greenlit a pilot for a reimagining of the film “Training Day.”
Other CBS dramas in contention for the 2016-17 season include legal drama “Doubt,” starring Katherine Heigl, Steven Pasquale and Laverne Cox, and Jason Katims’ Silicon Valley medical drama “Bunker Hill.” As for comedy pilots, the network ordered “The Great Indoors” from “Tosh.0” co-creator Mike Gibbons; “The Kicker,” from “30 Rock” producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock; romantic comedy “My Time/Your Time” exec produced by “How I Met Your Mother” creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas; “Superior Donuts” from “Odd Couple” exec producer Bob Daily; and an untitled comedy based on Australian series “Upper Middle Bogan.” Already ordered for next season at CBS is a Kevin James comedy, which landed a straight-to-series 13-episode order.
For detailed information on all of this year’s pilots, see Variety’s Pilot Scorecard.
