Magnum P.I. (2018 TV series)

Magnum P.I. is an American action drama television series developed by Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim. It stars Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator and former Navy SEAL who solves crimes in Hawaii. It is a reboot of the series of the same name created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, which aired from 1980 to 1988. The series co-stars Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Amy Hill, and Tim Kang.
The pilot was directed by Justin Lin. It was ordered to series on May 11, 2018, and premiered September 24, 2018, on CBS. On October 19, 2018, it was announced that the series had received a full season order from CBS. In January 2019, CBS renewed the series for a second season which premiered on September 27, 2019. In May 2020, CBS renewed the series for a third season which premiered on December 4, 2020. In April 2021, the series was renewed for a fourth season.
"Magnum P.I." takes place in the same fictional universe as two other series, both also developed by Lenkov and both also reboots of earlier police shows: "Hawaii Five-0" and "MacGyver". The three shows have been collectively referred to as the "Lenkov-verse".
Initially, the series aired on Monday nights at 9:00 p.m., but since Season 2, it has aired on Friday nights in the same timeslot, immediately followed by "Blue Bloods" starring Tom Selleck, who portrayed the original series' titular character.
Premise.
As in the original series, the reboot follows Thomas Magnum, a former Navy SEAL turned private investigator who occupies the guest house on Robin's Nest, the Hawaiian estate owned by famous author Robin Masters. He lives with Juliet Higgins, a former MI6 agent assigned by Masters to protect the estate, and native Hawaiian Kumu Tuileta, who is the estate's cultural curator. (Juliet Higgins replaces the male character Jonathan Higgins from the original series.) Juliet often assists Thomas with his cases, and becomes a full partner in the agency during season 2. Magnum is also frequently assisted by two former U.S. Marines, Orville "Rick" Wright and Theodore "T.C." Calvin. Rick is now a bar owner, while T.C. is a pilot whose main business is running helicopter tours of the islands. Magnum tends to butt heads with HPD Detective Gordon Katsumoto, but the two also help each other when needed.
Production.
Development.
On October 20, 2017, it was announced that CBS was developing a reboot of the original series from Peter M. Lenkov who also developed the 2010 reboot and 2016 reboot of "Hawaii Five-O" and "MacGyver". At the time CBS ordered a pilot production commitment for the series while Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim, a "Hawaii Five-0" writer and co-showrunner, were announced developers. John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment were reported as additional executive producers. CBS Television Studios and Universal Television co-produced the series. Danielle Woodrow was also later announced to be serving as an executive producer. The series was initially picked up by CBS for thirteen episodes and an additional seven episodes were later ordered. On January 25, 2019, "Magnum P.I." was renewed for a second season along with two other CBS freshman series. Peter M. Lenkov returned for the second season as an executive producer and co-showrunner after signing a three-year deal with CBS Television Studios in 2018. Eric Guggenheim also returned as executive producer and co-showrunner. It was later revealed that the second season would consist of twenty-episodes. On May 6, 2020, CBS renewed the series for a third season, along with eighteen other television shows. On July 7, 2020, it was revealed that co-showrunner, executive producer, and co-developer Peter M. Lenkov would not have any involvement in the third season after being fired from CBS over toxic work environment allegations. Lenkov was originally expected to continue work on the series throughout the season as part of the previously signed deal. Lucas Till who portrays the titular character of Angus MacGyver on "MacGyver" stated that Lenkov made him suicidal and constantly body shamed him. Lenkov's lawyers initially denied all allegations. Lenkov later responded to the situation by stating "It's difficult to hear that the working environment I ran was not the working environment my colleagues deserved, and for that, I am deeply sorry. I accept responsibility for what I am hearing and am committed to doing the work that is required to do better and be better." Lenkov still received writing credits for various episodes throughout the season written prior to his termination. Gene Hong replaced Lenkov as co-showrunner joining other co-showrunner Eric Guggenheim who also co-developed and executive-produces for the series. On October 27, 2020, it was reported that the third season would have a reduced episode order of sixteen-episodes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 15, 2021, CBS renewed the series for a fourth season.
Filming.
The pilot episode filmed in March and April of 2018 at Hawaii Film Studio. It was directed by Justin Lin, who also directed other CBS pilots. The rest of the first season began filming on July 23, 2018, with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. Filming for the series takes place in the state of Hawaii on the island of O'ahu at Kalaeloa Studio. The fictional Robin’s Nest Estate where Magnum and Higgins lives is located at Kalaeloa Ranch a location which "Jurassic World" also used as a filming location. Other filming locations include numerous beaches including Maili, Waikiki, and Kapolei.
A central theme of the original series was Magnum's constant, if not always approved, use of Mr. Master's vehicles. Then Magnum almost exclusively favored his Ferrari 308 GTS which has become a cultural icon, inextricably linked to the series, such that it was briefly shown in the pilot episode. In 2018 the production team updated his favored vehicle to a Ferrari 488 Spider. Both cars are a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seat, roadster variant of the current V8 Ferrari.
Filming for the second season also began with a traditional Hawaiian blessing on July 8, 2019. A new filming location in the second season is the La Mariana Restaurant, an operating Tiki Bar in Hawaii. On July 1, 2020, it was revealed that the series was eyeing a delayed mid-August start date to begin filming as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. September 14, was later stated as a tentative start date. Filming for the season began two days later on September 16, 2020, with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. COVID-19 protocols were required on set including the wearing of masks, social distancing, COVID testing, and reduced cast and crew on set.
Casting.
On February 20, 2018 it was announced that Jay Hernandez had been cast as the titular character Thomas Magnum who was portrayed by Tom Selleck in the original series. Perdita Weeks was cast as Higgins on March 2, 2018. Zachary Knighton and Stephen Hill were later cast as Orville "Rick" Wright and Theodore "T.C." Calvin, respectively. Tim Kang and Amy Hill were the last two to be cast in the series as Detective Gordon Katsumoto and Kumu, respectively. Kimee Balmilero, Taylor Wily, and Dennis Chun all appeared as their "Hawaii Five-0" throughout the first season. Chun guest starred on the original "Magnum, P.I." as various minor characters throughout its run. Domenick Lombardozzi, Ken Jeong, and Christopher Thornton were cast in recurring roles.
Former NFL and CFL football player, Carl Weathers, MLB baseball player, Christian Yelich, and NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney all appeared as guest stars. Roger E. Mosley who starred as Theodore Calvin in the original "Magnum, P.I." guest starred in one episode. Selleck stated in an interview that he would never appear in the series even though he was asked as not to take away from the original "Magnum, P.I." and due to conflicting filming of "Blue Bloods" which also airs on CBS. Thornton continued to recur throughout the second and third seasons. Bobby Lee was introduced as a new recurring character in the season and also returned for a guest appearance in the third. Numerous professional athletes appeared in guest roles throughout the season including Deontay Wilder, a World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, Aaron Donald and Andre Reed, National Football League players, Hans Hedemann, a competitive surfer, and Cowboy Cerrone, an Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial artist. Patrick Monahan, Skyler Grey, Jerry Becker, and Luis Carlos Maldonado appeared as themselves and performed as their real world band Train. Betsy Phillips, series star Zachary Knighton's wife, appeared in the first seasons final episode. Balmilero, Wily, and Chun also made appearances throughout the second season as their "Hawaii Five-0" characters. Other "Hawaii Five-0" actors new to the second season include series regulars Meaghan Rath, Katrina Law, Beulah Koale, and Ian Anthony Dale all who appeared as their "Hawaii Five-0" characters. In addition, guest stars from "Hawaii Five-0" including Larry Manetti, Willaim Forsythe, Shawn Mokuahi Garnett, Willie Garson all appeared as the same characters from "Hawaii Five-0" as well. Manetti previously starred on the original "Magnum, P.I." as Rick Wright. On October 16, 2020, it was announced that Jay Ali had been cast in a recurring role for the third season as Dr. Ethan Shah. It was later revealed that Lance Lim would also recur in the third season. Mosley again returned as a guest star in the third season. Balmilero, Chun, and Garnett from "Hawaii Five-0" continued appearances in the third season despite "Hawaii Five-0"s cancellation.
Reception.
Critical response.
"Magnum P.I." has been met with mixed reviews. On review aggregation Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 57% with an average rating of 6.35/10, based on 21 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "The rebooted "Magnum P.I." may not be quite distinctive enough to hold up to comparisons with its source material, but a charismatic star, slickly staged action, and a handful of modern twists hint at greater potential." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 48 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."