How the Magnum P.I. Reboot Avoided a Tom Selleck Cameo: Insights from the Showrunner

The showrunner of the Magnum P.I. reboot, Eric Guggenheim, recently discussed why Tom Selleck never made a cameo in the series. Selleck, who portrayed private investigator Thomas Magnum in the original 1980-1988 CBS show, was not featured in the 2018 reboot led by Jay Hernandez, which ran for four seasons on CBS before being picked up by NBC for a fifth season. Guggenheim mentioned that while they joked about having Selleck appear as the elusive Robin Masters early on, it was never a genuine possibility.

Although it would have been fitting for Selleck to reprise his iconic role—perhaps sporting his classic Detroit Tigers cap—scheduling conflicts likely hindered his participation, given his busy career since the original series. After Magnum P.I., Selleck found success in films like Three Men and a Baby and took on notable TV roles, including a recurring part on Friends and the lead in the Jesse Stone movie franchise. Currently, he stars in CBS’s Blue Bloods, where he has amassed 275 episodes, leaving little room for other projects since 2015.