Oh, boy.
Quantum Leap, the beloved time traveling series featuring the adventures of physicist Dr.
Sam Becket to change history for the better, is officially being revived in a new sequel
series.
Rumors of this revival have been circulating for quite awhile.
It’s been almost a year since it was revealed by NBC’s head of program planning and strategy
Jeff Bader, that as the network was exploring their entire back catalog everyone was discussing
Quantum Leap.
Now it is officially moving forward as NBC has just ordered a pilot for the new series.
In this video I’d like to discuss everything we know including this latest news, what we
might expect to see in this sequel and what I think needs to happen in this new series
to guarantee success.
I have to admit that I’m glad this show is in fact a continuation of the original
series and not a reboot.
According to Variety the official premise for this new iteration is, “It’s been
30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished.
Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding
the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.”
Universal Television will produce.
Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt are attached to write the pilot and will also executive
produce under their I Have an Idea!
Entertainment banner.
Both also currently serve as executive producers on the NBC series La Brea.
The pair have previously created and served as show-runners for the dramedy God Friended
Me and have also worked as writers on Gotham and the Hawaii 5 O reboot.
I’m excited to report that the original series creator Donald P. Bellisario is also
attached to this Quantum Leap entry as executive producer along with Deborah Pratt and Martin
Gero.
As of right now it has not been officially confirmed if Scott Bakula will return to reprise
his role however he is rumored to be in talks to join the show.
I would be very surprised if he wasn’t involved in some way considering the very premise of
the show itself revolves around understanding the mystery of the Quantum Leap Accelerator
and the man who created it, Dr. Beckett.
The Star Trek: Enterprise and NCIS: New Orleans actor has expressed on several occasions his
interest to come back for a revival if given the opportunity.
So I think it’s definitely reasonable to hope that we’ll see Bakula in this new series,
how much we’ll see of him though is another matter entirely.
What makes this news bittersweet however is the fact that actor Dean Stockwell who played
Dr. Beckett’s friend and guide through time Al recently passed away at 85 years of age.
The bond of friendship between Sam and Al was one of the best parts of the series and
I hope the show-runners recognize that and do their utmost to honor their legacy.
I also think it’s important for the same theme of what can be accomplished through
the strong bond of friendship to be carried on in this new iteration.
The original “Quantum Leap” aired for five seasons on NBC from 1989-1993.
When season 5 was coming to an end however series creator Donald Bellisario was instructed
to write an episode that could serve as either a season or series finale as it was unclear
whether the show would be renewed for 6th season.
This caused what ended up being the series finale to be somewhat controversial.
While there were some answers provided regarding Beckett’s continued leaping and featured
Sam correcting a life altering event in Al’s life changing his future for the better, the
last shot of the finale revealed that Sam never returned home.
While it is certainly nice to think about Sam’s noble sacrifice to continue leaping
to keep fixing things that once went wrong, one can’t help but long for his return home
so he can live his own life to see his family and to expect to see himself when he looks
in the mirror.
It’s still unclear if bringing Sam home by possibly replacing him is what the new
team endeavors to accomplish.
As I’ve stated before in a previous video a sequel series basically writes itself.
Sam ended up having a daughter Samantha who had her dad’s high IQ and photographic memory
and who in season 5 was revealed to be working on the Quantum Leap Project trying to find
a way to bring Beckett home.
It could also be a possibility that one of Al’s 4 daughters could be involved in the
renewed project as well but that’s all speculation.
We’ll have to wait and see as more information comes out.
The premise still leaves a lot open to interpretation though it does seem to lend itself to less
of an episodic time travel of the week format and more towards having the intention of using
the quantum leap accelerator for the specific purpose of continuing Dr. Becket’s humanitarian
efforts with a continual story arc of tracking him in order to bring him home at last.
While the initial rumors stated that the Quantum Leap revival was intended to air on the streaming
service Peacock that was not confirmed in this recent report.
Only that NBC had ordered the series pilot.
If the series does indeed end up airing on Peacock I can definitely see a more condensed
story arc of 10 episodes a season which tends to be the norm for streaming shows.
Another intriguing aspect of this new series is that the Quantum Leap Accelerator enables
one to travel within one’s own lifetime; So Doctor Beckett under normal circumstances
could only leap as far back as his birthday in 1953 as such this allowed for various period
piece stories between the 50s and 80s.
Now that the new series is set 30 years later in our present time it also means the time
periods available to a new leaper will be different with episodes set in the present
with the possibility to travel back at least a few decades.
I can see them going as far back as the 80s but that’s all dependent on the age of the
traveler.
While this is an important piece of lore I hope they maintain, I share actor Scott Bakula’s
concern of whether more modern stories could retain that quaint old fashioned feel that
made the original so special.
In an interview with TVline Bakula voiced what he would like to see in a revival saying,
“That show is very special to me, obviously, so I would wish whoever did it luck.
I mean, the idea of walking in another man or woman’s shoes is so relevant and so important
right now.
We’ve become so divided in our world that the ability to cross that line of politics
and just deal with the humanity and the individual person who’s sharing a moment on the planet
with you is really relevant.
There was also a quaintness about the show, because it had this period feel because Sam
traveled anywhere within his own lifetime.
That made it feel a little old fashioned, but I would hope that they get the truth of
it and the sentiments of it right, and not try and make it slick.
Sam was this naïve kid who just happened to be a brilliant scientist who stumbled on
something and all of a sudden was thrown into all of these different lives and worlds and
people and situations that he never could’ve imagined growing up in.
I would just hope that they would try and keep that, but you know, I don’t know what
they’ll do.”
Revivals of beloved IPs can be very hit or miss, mostly miss to be honest.
But I choose to remain hopeful for this new addition to Quantum Leap.
I am really glad that I haven’t heard the word reboot in this case and am hopeful considering
the original series creators involvement and Scott Bakula’s willingness to join the show.
There are reasons for hope and concern as the series has some big shoes to fill especially
for the writing department.
What made Quantum Leap so unique is that for a time traveling series it wasn’t a typical
sci-fi show.
It was a pleasing blend of humor, drama, and social commentary as Sam entered the shoes
so to speak of all sorts of people and walks of life, a recipe I’m skeptical as to whether
or not it can be faithfully repeated.
Bakula was dead on when he expressed his hope that the show-runners get the truth of the
show and the sentiments of it right.
I personally think that is the key.
I can’t help but look to Cobra Kai as one of the best examples of revitalizing a beloved
franchise.
As a sequel series to the Karate Kid films it follows Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence
and a new generation of karate kids.
Though these IPs are obviously very different, the lessons learned from Cobra Kai’s success
are vital for this Quantum Leap revival.
Cobra Kai retains the same spirit of the original films, there is sincere respect for the legacy
characters.
They struggle and suffer setbacks but they are as we remember them while they mentor
a new generation.
And honoring what came before does not mean simply adding nostalgic elements for nostalgia’s
sake.
Every moment that harkens back to the spirit of the original is meaningful as it is incorporated
into the story in a significant and compelling way.
Another thing that I think the show-runners have handled beautifully is how Cobra Kai
continues to pay homage to the late Pat Morita and his character Mr. Miyagi in heartfelt
ways.
I feel that he is very much a vital part of this new entry to the karate kid franchise.
This respectful treatment of beloved legacy characters is something I very much hope to
see when it comes to both Sam and Al and at the end of the day will be crucial in attracting
fans and general audiences alike.
Ultimately, time will tell.
But I’m curious to know what you think about this planned Quantum Leap series.
Are you excited that it’s moving forward as a sequel?
Do you have any theories for the characters and stories that might be featured?
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
I hope you enjoyed this video.
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