The reboot starring Jay Hernandez will unfortunately not return for its sixth run, as announced on June 23, 2022. NBC had given an upfront order of 20 episodes for season 5 last month, which had to be split into two, the former airing this midseason and the second half slated for the midseason 2024 release. Considering that 10 episodes remain to be aired, NBC will market them as the series’ final chapter.
Relishing a dedicated fan following, the show was trending last week, even with no new episodes airing on its official network. For those unversed, Magnum P.I. is that rare broadcast drama led by a Latino and a marquee title in Universal’s TV library. Given that the show enjoys such a fan following, why did NBC decide to cancel it? Here’s why.
Why did NBC seal the fate of Magnum P.I. with Season 5 Part 2?
According to Deadline, “…the options on the cast are up June 30, which forced the issue now.” In the wake of this, NBC was left with three scenarios: a) to renew the show for a sixth season, b) to look for more options in the cast or, c) to free the actors and end the series, as delineated by the media platform.
In the midst of the writers’ strike, networks are treading the waters very carefully, especially regarding which series needs to have a pickup and which does not. Considering that the show is secured for the 2023-2024 term owing to its 10-episode Part 2 of season 5, NBC would have to wait till 2024 to make a renewal decision, which is a long hold.
However, this is not the first time that Magnum P.I. was canceled. In the wake of CBS’ cancellation of the reboot last year, lead studio Universal Television found the sanctuary for the series under its sister network NBC. Perhaps the only hope this time is Netflix, which gave sanctuary to the fellow NBC series Manifest, which was quite a success.
Currently, Magnum P.I. is available for streaming the current season on NBCUniversal’s Peacock. The previous seasons are available on Paramount +, touted as the “streaming sibling” of CBS and series’ co-producer CBS studios.
The show stars Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Tim Kang, and Amy Hill star in addition to Hernandez. Eric Guggenheim, Justin Lin, John Davis, and John Fox serve as the executive producers of the show.
What does the cast have to say about the cancellation?
In the wake of the cancellation announcement, Zachary Knighton, who plays Rick, expressed his thoughts on Twitter, saying:
“It’s been a helluva ride! Thanks to all the fans for 5 incredible years. Love you all ❤️ excited for what’s next!”
Stephen Hill, aka T.C, shared his thoughts on Instagram:
“That was a STRONG run 👊🏾 Changed my life. Thank you to everyone for watching! Thank you to all the cast and crew! Thank you, Hawaii! I can’t wait for you to see the rest of Season 5. Mahalo Nui Loa! Aloha Aku No, Aloha Mai No. ❤️❤️❤️” (Googling suggests that the latter phrases mean, “Thank you so very much” and “You gave your heart to me, I give my heart to you.”)
Amy Hill, who plays Kumu, tweeted:
“Love the cast, crew, production staff, writers, casting …. Everyone and everything to do with MPI! What a gift these last 5 seasons have been. Huge hugs to all our fans who went above and beyond.❤️❤️❤️”
Martin Martinez, who played T.C.’s adopted son, Cade, also shared his thoughts on Twitter, saying, “Thank you to the entire team for having me as part of this Ohana, I’ve gotten so many messages on how Cade’s storyline has resonated with so many. Grateful to the cast and crew for the journey. And the LOVE from the fans.”
Magnum P.I. is a reboot of the 1980s drama created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, which originally featured Tom Selleck. Modeled around the life of a private investigator and former Navy SEAL, Thomas Magnum, the series involves him solving crimes in Hawaii after returning home from Afghanistan.