The Magnum P.I reboot is officially set to conclude on NBC with the release of Season 5, Part 2 in 2024.
As reported by Deadline, NBC has chosen not to order any more episodes of Magnum PI beyond the 20-episode fifth season it picked up last year. The outlet reports that NBC is expected to “launch a major campaign” for what will be marketed as the show’s final chapter, which includes the remaining 10 episodes.
Based on the 1980-1988 series of the same name, Magnum PI premiered on CBS in 2018. The series stars Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, a role played by Tom Selleck in the original incarnation of the 80s. Due to a disagreement over licensing fees with Universal, CBS canceled the Magnum PI reboot in 2022 after four seasons. Shortly after, NBC revived the show for a 20-episode fifth season, which would be split into two parts.
Why did NBC cancel Magnum PI?
The 10 episodes that make up Magnum PI Season 5, Part 1 aired on NBC from February 2023 to April 2023. Season 5, Part 2 is scheduled to air as part of the 2024 midseason. However, Head -day reports that the new episodes may arrive earlier, depending on the impact of the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.
Although Magnum PI Season 5, Part 2 isn’t slated until next year, casting choices will wrap up in just a few days on June 30. According to Deadline, this “put the matter on the line now.” Obviously, NBC had three options: give the show an early Season 6 renewal, expand the options on the cast, or drop the cast and end the presentation.
An early Season 6 renewal was unlikely, as networks are reluctant to provide pickups during the announced WGA strike. At the same time, expanding the options would have put the team on hold for a long time, because – in that case – NBC would not have to make the decision to renew Season 6 for another year. So, the network ended up going with option number three.
