Who should play Magnum in the movie?

[Waltstasz]

As much as I would have liked to see the original cast in something, I personally don't want to see a reunion movie (made for television or not) at this point any more than I want to see a modern 'spoof'. The problem with using the original cast now is that although the actors could probably pull it off, I think the movie would seem like it was being done more for the sake of nostalgia and a nod to the past then anything else. Even it there was a viable story it wouldn't come across that way to most people. And it also doesn't seem very likely to happen. From what I understand, there were offers to make TV movies in the past and Selleck wasn't interested; he wanted the big screen or nothing. Maybe he felt they had done all they could with the show with a television budget and format. I've never heard any definitive explanations.

Whatever the reasons, what we are left with is the opportunity to see something done that reintroduces Magnum to a new audience in a modern setting. To take the same basic elements that made the show work (nice list here) and incorporate them into a modern story. None of which gets me any closer to an opinion on who should play Mangum, though. Although I have to admit that while the actors will be important to the overall quality of the film, they are just one element of what will make it work.

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My darling, you look ravishing... A-heh, heh heh... A little champagne?

[J.J. Walters]

At this point in the game, I tend to agree with you Walt (Do you mind I call ya 'Walt'?). I'm certainly not against a modern take on the show.

The tv movie (either network or cable) really needed to be done back in the 90s, before Hillerman retired. Even if by some miracle they green-lighted a tv movie with the original cast, I'm not so sure Hillerman would do it. The guy is pushing 75 and has been retired for years. Having 3 of the 4 main cast members would almost be worse than nothing at all!

As long as everyone's still alive, I guess there is still a small, minute chance, however. Never say never!

[KC]

It seems Selleck has moved on. He's found success with the Jesse Stone TV films and probably doesn't want to go back to the Magnum role if possible. I was thinking the other day that I would like to see him and Sam Elliott do another Western together. They did The Sacketts and The Shadow Riders back in the late 70's and early 80's and I would love to see them on screen together again.
But getting back to the main reason for this board, which actor should play Magnum in the feature? If the character stays true to the television version the actor should be funny, but not goofy, dramatic, athletic and be able to carry a movie...plus being a name star wouldn't hurt. So I thought Brendan Fraser might work. He can do the action thing like in the two Mummy films, which were very Indian Jones like, and we all know that Selleck was the original choice to play Indie. He's tall and athletic plus he's got comedic chops, his short role on NBC's Scrubs was terrific.
Whadda think?

[Shermy]

I agree a reunion film should've really happened in the 90's, although given a choice, I'd still prefer to see the original cast. (Hillerman's age does make the prospect less and less likely, though.) I've just always found sequels more interesting than prequels, reboots, or remakes.

Plus, one problem with a modern update is that it robs the character of a very essential ingredient: Vietnam. It wasn't just war, but being forced to go to war that led Magnum into a state of arrested adolescence. Yet today, it's not that uncommon to see a carefree, unmarried guy in his thirties who still enjoys childish pursuits (such as videogames; etc.). So they not only need to worry about finding the right actor, but also updating the character so that it contains the same amount of depth.

[Waltstasz]

[golfmobile]

Again, from the newbie here (but I have read a lot of what everyone else has written, and I LOVE this site and the forums!), I have to agree totally with the Brendan Fraser suggestion. Just re-watch "Blast from the Past" to see his comedic talents, the Mummy series highlights his "action" capabilities (and humor too -- "I HATE mummies!"), and he has the looks. Also adding a moustache on his face would be a totally different look for him so it would tend to make him less recognizable as Brendan and perhaps more acceptable to us diehard Selleck fans as a substitute for Selleck.

For a Rick character, I would really like a guy who can actually ACT. Larry Manetti may be a great guy, but IMO, he canNOT act and never could. He always sounded to me as though he were reading lines off a cue-card AND over-acting (remember the jerk reaction in the shovel scene in the opening credits? That ALWAYS looks over-acting to me -- again, JMO!). Perhaps Rick could be made more appeal-able by a better actor. I think Matthew Perry could do this. He can pull off comedy ("Friends," of course) and "The Whole Nine/Ten Yards" series, plus straight drama in "The Ron Clark Story."

For TC, how about the black doctor from "Scrubs"? (I'm sorry I don't remember his name right now). He can be strong, capable, but could probably pull off the frustration, with humor, with Magnum's shenanigans. Though I wouldn't object to Eddie Murphy, but would he be gracious enough to play second fiddle?

The sticking point for casting, other than TSM, of course, is the critical Higgins character. Though he wouldn't fit the "body type" of the original JQH, I think Alan Rickman (who has a history with TS in "QDU") could pull off the British persnickety-ness and condescension to TSM, yet be there to pull through when needed.

And, of course, let's get the now-senior citizen Julie Andrews to do a parody of Agatha. That could be the only parody-type role, and I think JA would chew the scenery doing that. And it would make her attraction to Higgins a little more believable (and hopeful) for her to play opposite Alan Rickman. So they could finally get together at the end, and we could enjoy it, because we really didn't want Hillerman to have to settle for Chumley (though she was good in the role, we [at least I] just wanted better for JQH), but Rickman and Andrews would make a good "together at the end" resolution for that character.

This would be casting younger (than the current cast) in a new movie in present-day time.

However, if we go to using the older characters in a new movie (a la "where are they now?"), I liked the idea that Walt suggested (if we use the original, older cast) about Magnum's daughter being Naval Intelligence and TSM has to gather the "old gang" and go perform a rescue. Could Lucy Lui be the grown daughter, as wasn't Michelle's daugher Amerasian (though if that were the case, we'd really need someone who looks more like Nancy Kwan, but I don't know of a current actress who looks Caucasian with only a slight Oriental influence the way Nancy Kwan did)? But was she supposed to be TSM's daughter, not the General's? The child who played the part did not look like a cross of Thomas and Michelle to me.

I think it wouldn't HAVE to be an "action" story, if written correctly, like maybe a serial killer/kidnapper took the daughter and it takes cunning and substitute suspense for action by the entire crew -- a la Morgan Freeman as Dr. Alex Cross -- to find and rescue the daughter, while she's doing her own efforts (a la Ashley Judd in "Kiss the Girls" and the female FBI agent in "Along Came a Spider") to thwart the kidnapper/killer.

Just throwing out ideas here. As though anyone actually making the movie would actually pay any attention to any suggestions from the general lay public . . . .

golf

[J.J. Walters]

Hi golf, welcome to MM!

I like some of your suggestions for the movie. A Fraser-Perry-Rickman combo would be VERY cool.

Not sure I'd get into a gritty serial killer/kidnapper story for Magnum though! A little too dark for a Magnum story, for my liking. I like the idea of a "Beverly Hills Cop" vibe, good action/good comedy.

[SelleckLover]

Wow, golfmobile you sure have put a lot of thought into the Magnum Movie and I wholeheartedly agree with you, now that I've read your comments. What you've come up with is as good or better than anyone in Hollywood would come up with, given their profit-driven movie scripts and poorly written episodic TV shows. And don't get me started on the supposed "reality" TV shows! I'm so OVER all of them except "Dog the Bounty Hunter". I guess I just can't get away from those Hawaii-based TV shows!


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Baseball only lasts a summer, however long that summer lasts. ~Magnum to Mad Buck Gibson

[grundle]

If they don't have Phoebe Cates play Magnum, then there's no reason for me to see this movie.

[IslandHopper]