Before his iconic role as the protagonist in Blue Bloods, Tom Selleck was the titular central lead in the cult 80s crime drama Magnum P.I. The veteran star’s portrayal of a freelancing private investigator made his one of the biggest superstars on television for 8 seasons of the show.
When Selleck was expectedly called back for a reboot of the show in 2018, the Three Men and a Baby star declined the offer categorically. Having already committed to a long-standing association with Blue Bloods, the actor had no regrets and revealed that his commitment to the CBS show was the top priority.
Why Tom Selleck Prioritized Blue Bloods Over Magnum P.I
Few actors get the unique opportunity to play multiple memorable characters who have stood the test of time. Tom Selleck is one star who has this envious reputation. Following his cult role in the 80s crime drama Magnum P.I, Selleck went on to star in another hugely popular CBS series Blue Bloods which is currently in its 14th season.
During his time with the police drama, the FRIENDS actor was called upon to star in a Magnum P. I reboot series which would have been an expected outcome considering his influence in the original show. But Selleck surprisingly turned down the offer. In an interview in 2020, Selleck told TV Insider about the valid reasons he had for his rejection.
“They asked and I said, ‘Absolutely not. I’m busy with Blue Bloods.”
Selleck went on to add that he wasn’t fully certain of how the reboot would incorporate the original elements of his character. He also believed that he wanted to stick on to the memories and nuances of his version in the 80s.
Why Tom Selleck Rejected A Cameo In Magnum P.I Reboot
Tom Selleck’s extensive association with CBS has seen him in many prominent roles starting from the soap opera Young and the Restless to his two iconic and very different law enforcement protagonists in Magnum P.I and Blue Bloods. While Selleck was asked to step back on board for a Magnum P.I reboot in 2018, the actor’s commitment to Blue Bloods deterred him from accepting the offer.
In addition, it also seemed that Selleck wanted the reboot version to trace its own path without baggage from the original. This was also the reason for the star turning down a cameo that was offered to him by director Peter Lenkov in the series. In a chat with TV Insider, he said,
“I told them that I won’t do some cameo guest spot to let the audience know I approve. I’m sure they’d like it, but I have an obligation to my version. And Peter’s [doing] his take on what a Magnum under some similar circumstances should be about.”
Tom Selleck was ultimately replaced by Jay Hernandez in the Magnum P.I reboot which ran for 5 seasons and culminated on January 3rd, 2024.
Magnum P.I (1980) is available for purchase on Apple TV.
