“Magnum P.I.” is getting the reboot treatment at CBS, Variety has learned.
Peter Lenkov, the writer and producer behind current CBS reboots of “Hawaii Five-O” and “MacGyver,” will serve as the writer and executive producer on a new version of the classic 1980s series, which has a pilot production commitment at the network.
Described as an updated version of the original series, “Magnum P.I.” follows Thomas Magnum, a decorated ex-Navy SEAL who, upon returning home to Hawaii 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. Tom Selleck played the mustachioed Magnum in the original series.
Eric Guggenheim, an executive producer and writer on Lenkov’s “Hawaii Five-O,” will also write and executive produce. John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment will also executive produce. CBS Television Studios will co-produce with Universal Television.
This is not the first time a new version of the series has been attempted. Last season, ABC tried developing a sequel series titled “Magnum,” which would follow Magnum’s daughter who returns to Hawaii to take over her father’s P.I. firm. Eva Longoria was attached to the project as an executive producer, but it ultimately did not move beyond the development stage.
The original “Magnum P.I.” aired from 1980-1988 for eight seasons and 158 episodes on CBS. It picked up two Golden Globe Awards during its run: best performance by an actor in a television series – drama for Selleck in 1985 and best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or motion picture made for television for John Hillerman (the original Higgins) in 1982.
Lenkov’s other reboots have proven very successful for CBS. “Hawaii Five-O” is currently in its eighth season and is averaging 8.6 million viewers per episode. Now in its second season, “MacGyver” is averaging 6.6 million viewers per episode. Both shows air on Friday nights.
Guggenheim is repped by ICM Partners and ZIffren Brittenham. Lenkov is repped by CAA and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano.
