Jay Hernandez’s (Crazy/Beautiful, Suicide Squad) Magnum P.I. is once again coming to an end. According to Deadline, the modern reboot of the 1980s drama series will not continue after airing part B of its fifth season on NBC. The series had a twenty-episode order split in half.
The series was formerly canceled at its original home, CBS, after four seasons despite being one of the network’s strongest procedurals. Produced by Universal Television, the series found new home at NBC with its current episodes streaming on Peacock. Deadline reports the show wasn’t in need of a renewal decision, but the uncertainty of the present writer’s strike left the network with three scenarios moving forward.
The cast was on option until June 30, via Deadline, pushing a decision for a sixth-season renewal to the front of mind for NBC executives. The network could have renewed the series, thus extending the actors’ options. However, writers fighting for equitable pay and other grievances left the timeline for a new season in limbo. Ultimately, NBC sided with releasing the actors not to prolong the process, wrapping the show up later this fall.
The series followed Hernandez’s Thomas Magnum, a former NAVY Seal turned private investigator who solved crimes in Hawaii. Tom Selleck (Blue Bloods, Three Men and A Baby) originated the role in 1980, playing Magnum for eight seasons. Hernandez was joined by Amy Hill (All-American Girl, 50 First Dates), Stephen Hill (Jack of the Red Hearts, Dead Man Down), Tim Kang (Rambo, The Mentalist), Zachary Knighton (Happy Endings, Believe Me), and Perdita Weeks (As Above, So Below, Titanic) in the new version.
Universal TV split ownership with CBS Studios with Eric Guggenheim (Miracle, Parenthood) attached as showrunner. Guggenheim also executive produced the series with John Fox (Prey, The Player), Justin Lin (The Endgame, S.W.A.T.), and John Davis (Game Night, Dolemite Is My Name).
The current season of Magnum P.I. is available to stream on Peacock.