I guess triple-Oscar nominee George Clooney is now too classy to star in the long-gestating film adaptation of Magnum, P.I. Heck, I think Tom Selleck (left) could still play the Hawaiian private eye. But the project is probably going in a different direction, given the recent announcement that Dodgeball director Rawson Marshall Thurber will write and direct the adaptation.
EW writer Jeff Labrecque has some casting suggestions in the new issue of the magazine: Matthew McConaughey (far left) as Magnum; Chi McBride as pilot T.C.; Mark Wahlberg as bar owner Rick; and Ricky Gervais as fussy caretaker Higgins.
If we’re really getting a tongue-in-cheek Magnum, I say Thurber might as well give the lead to Jason Lee, or at least his mustache, but I’m interested in hearing your casting suggestions, PopWatchers.
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tom selleck, who else?
Jason Lee He has the best mustache on T.V.
I think your picks are fine, but I am not excited about yet another movie-from-a TV-series. And yet another indie director, who produced something as fresh and interesting as Murderball, signing up for such a thing? It’s just seems sad. Maybe Thurber will surprise us and do something truly inventive with this, but I wouldn’t hold my breath considering the track record for this “genre”. And as for Tom Selleck, I love the work he is doing with the Jesse Stone adaptations for CBS: careful, understated, attention to detail in developing a worthwhile character. I just hope he resists any push for a weekly series. The movies work very well just as they are.
ummm, Rawson Marshall Thurber direcred Dodgeball, not Murderball. And put in my vote for Jason Lee’s mustache!
Shouldn’t be a remake movie because Tom Selleck WAS Magnum P.I. There wouldn’t have been a show worth watching without him.
No movie actor today in his mid-thirties has got that kind of sexy laid-back macho charisma. Maybe Josh Holloway from Lost, but he’s a TV actor, too.
BTW, Matthew McConaughey is just ewwww.
It could ONLY be Tom Selleck. And if they make a tongue-in-cheek version, I’ll be so angry. Sure Magnum had its tongue-in-cheek moments, but it was also a serious drama, at times. BOO to the Dodgeball folks!! And if Matthew McCouuuughhbleh gets cast, I’ll be furious!
Tom Selleck is the one and only Magnum P.I. I really can’t imagine anyone else playing that role!
I think the real question is, “Who Should Be Shot and Killed For Thinking that Magnum P.I. Should be Made into a Movie?” Dear God…
The more important question is who should play Steve McGarrett in the upcoming “Hawaii Five-O” movie.
Tom Selleck was the best. I sure can’t see that in Matthew McConaughey if he plays the part. I enjoyed Magnum.
The only Magnum P.I. movie I want to see is the one about a Magnum that is 20 years older. So I can’t imagine anyone other than Tom Selleck playing Magnum
This may sound like an odd choice, but how about
Norm Macdonald? I recently saw him on Leno with a bushy moustache. For once, get someone that looks the part, and has a good sense of humor.
Tom Selleck.
Otherwise, I ain’t watching.
The best actor to play Magnum is Magnum himself – one Mr. Tom Selleck!
Jeremy Piven as barowner Rick
As one of the writer-producers of the orginal series, I can only see Tom in the role. But if they had to replace him, Geoge Clooney would be a good choice. However, I think hiring the writer-director of Dodgeball is a huge mistake (even though I did like the movie). Magnum was a higher quality show than Starsky & Hutch (nominated for many emmys, Tom won) and should not be given the parody treatment.
Did you mention Jason Lee because of the line in last night’s episode, where a fratboy called him “Magnum P.I.”?
If they’re going to go the parody route, then Patrick Warburton from Seinfeld would be great.
To Nick – if you really are one of the former producer/writers – bravo!! Magnum was a superb show. And I too, would only watch if it was Tom Selleck as Magnum, 20 years later. It should NOT be a parody.
Beatrice Arthur as Higgins, Don Knotts as Rick and Mr. T as TC, if it’s going to be a parody.
Tom is seriously the only one who can do it though.
You got to bring back Higgy baby too.
Tom Selleck will always be Magnum, but if he can’t do it, I vote for Patrick Dempsey as Magnum. Matt Damon as Rick and Ving Rhames as T.C. How about the original Higgins still playing Higgins.
Norm MacDonald with a mustache is his Burt Reynolds impersonation. Does anyone remember when he was on SNL and MacDonald played Reynolds on a Jeopardy parody?
Anyway, he would make a good Magnum if it was a parody. Seriously Starsky and Hutch was turned into one, even though it was not great.
George W Bush if Tom Selleck is unavailable
Hollywood – STOP with the tv-shows-turned-into-big-screen-movies!!! Puh-leeze!!! ENOUGH!! All end up crappy!! Bewitched, Starsky and Hutch, Dukes of H, and on and on.
End the insanity!! Do producers live in a cave and not see that this is always a bad idea!! What’s next…Facts of Life?! Blossom?!! Moonlighting?!!! (Bruce Willis is always up for another flop).
Sheesh, no wonder movie attendance is way down.
I will not watch any more tv show turn movie, after seeing the brady bunch 2 i came out of it thinking WOW i actually wasted two hours of my life just now.
Hey whatever happened to the Beat this caption on popwatch anyway it was so hilarious..bring it back!!!!
Selleck is it. Don’t go younger. Don’t go for a stud. Go for a guy with that charm and chest hair, because today’s crop of pretty boys couldn’t handle it (or the mustache).
(Then again, the only person who I think has that same charm and chest hair quality is Hugh Jackman, but I don’t think he’s at the point in his career that he’d go for a TV remake – even if it was done right and kept the same tone as the original.)
Do me a favor, Hollywood. Stop with the remakes before you get to MacGyver or The A-Team. Two of my childhood favorites, but definitely not to be duplicated.
I agree with alot of the posters. Why not just use Tom Selleck (if he’d do it!) and make it like we’re checking in with everyone 20 years later? I shudder to think what this movie will become.
To Nicky: Don’t kill my dreams of a “Blossom” movie… whoa!
Tom Selleck is Magnum PI. He still looks like Thomas Magnum and could pull the part off effortlessly. He hasn’t blimped out to the point where he couldn’t fit in the Ferrari or take care of baddies or bag some hotties. I think in the case of all the primary actors from the series being alive you should honor them by continuing their story, not jack it all to hell and back and make in cheesy and silly and unbelievable like certain other remakes have been and will be (the Wayan’s Brother’s forthcoming Munsters remake leaps to mind).
Really, anyone else will not be Magnum. In the final episode he was going back into the service. If we need some present day “action adventure” have it that he’s been in special forces or dark ops and he’s retiring from the service with the intention of retiring back in Hawaii and because of his dealings through the years there are baddies after him or something.
Anyway, Tom Selleck or no one!