Exclusive: Magnum PI Seasons Rediscovered for Streaming! What Lies Ahead for the Iconic Show?
Magnum PI finds hope amidst uncertainty as NBC rescues the beloved show from CBS after four successful seasons Discover the exciting future that lies ahead for this iconic detective series
Summary
Magnum P.I. seasons 1-4 are now available on Freevee ahead of the season 5 part 2 premiere on Peacock.
The uncertain future of Magnum P.I. is attributed to the ongoing strikes and the expiration of cast options on June 30. If the missing seasons generate strong streaming numbers, it could possibly sway producers towards renewing the show.
Magnum P.I. is now fully streaming. The 2018 reboot of the popular Tom Selleck series, with Jay Hernandez portraying Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum, has had a complex broadcasting history. The first four seasons aired on CBS before being picked up by NBC for a fifth season. The second part of the fifth season is set to premiere on October 4. Initially, only season 5 was available on Peacock, but now, the first four seasons are also accessible on Freevee, owned by Amazon. However, season 5 will still be exclusively on Peacock, resulting in the show being divided between CBS and NBC seasons.
What is the Future of Magnum P.I.?
The future of Magnum P.I. is uncertain at the moment. Season 5 will air ten more episodes this Fall, but there haven't been any orders for additional episodes. While the show hasn't been officially canceled, the decision may have been postponed due to ongoing strikes. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) are currently fighting for fair pay from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), causing a halt in productions.
Even if the show is renewed after the strikes, there is a complication with the cast options. These options expired on June 30, which means it may be challenging to get the entire cast to return if the show is renewed. They may have already moved on to other projects, leading to schedule conflicts. The current main cast of the series includes Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Amy Hill, and Tim Kang, in addition to Hernandez.
Strong streaming numbers for the missing seasons of Magnum P.I. could potentially persuade producers to renew the show in the future. However, it seems unlikely at this point since Freevee has not established a strong presence in the streaming arena. While their comic reality series Jury Duty was successful, its availability on this specific platform may not generate enough popularity for a sixth season to be considered.
