NBC launched its new “Quantum Leap” this past Monday, the series serving as a semi-sequel to the original 1989 show starring Scott Bakula as physicist Dr. Sam Beckett.
As we know, Bakula himself has denied any involvement in the show and has wished the cast and crew good luck with the new take. The first episode confirmed the series is set in the same continuity and mentions that Sam Beckett never returned home from his ‘leaping’.
That being the case, the new take brings up an immediate question in regards to Ernie Hudson’s Herbert “Magic” Williams character, who runs Project Quantum Leap in the new series.
In the old series, Sam jumps into the body of a much younger Herbert “Magic” Williams in a third season episode. That episode unfolds during the Vietnam war with Sam (as Magic) saving the life of his older brother Tom Beckett.
That brings up the obvious question – as Hudson is playing the same man as the one in that episode, does he remember Sam leaping into him a few decades ago? Speaking with Collider, showrunner Martin Gero says the fourth episode of the reboot will tackle that question head on:
“[Magic] does explain, from his point of view, that leap. Ernie [Hudson] gives this phenomenal monologue. It’s so beautiful. It might be my favorite scene of this first chunk [of episodes]. It’s really, really special.”
Gero also says that Deborah Pratt, the original series’ co-creator and voice of the A.I. unit Ziggy on that show, is not only an executive producer but has very much been on hand for filming:
“She’s been a real connection to the past show and is there every day with us. As a fan of the original show, I don’t want anyone to mess it up. To be able to have Deborah… She’s been banging this drum for 20 years, being like, ‘We got to bring the show back.’ It’s so exciting, not only to do it but to be able to do it with her.”
Raymond Lee leads the cast of the new “Quantum Leap” which continues Mondays on NBC.
