Matthew McConaughey to Play Magnum P.I.?

Magnum is my all-time favourite private eye (sorry - "private investigator") show. This'll be good only if they play it straight. If they go for a Starsky & Hutch-style parody, I'll pass. (And, if they get Tom Selleck to play Luther H. Gillis, I'm not even going to watch it on TV.)

Reply

Wow, I'd say only Clooney has the suave and macho thing down. McConaughey is just a pixilated pretty boy. Bad choice. Guessing they'll make a veteran of the first gulf war?

Reply

I feel the same way about Magnum PI as I do about Star Trek or Miami Vice or Starsky and Hutch. They are shining memories of my youth and in each and every case the actors are the characters. These movies that they insist on making without the actual people I remember all get the same treatment from me. I hate and despise them and the actors who allow themselves to be in them. Tom Selleck is Magnum, not Owen Wilson or Matthew McConaughey or any of this generation of actors. I would no more watch a movie about a classic tv show without the original actors than I would watch a Dirty Harry movie, or a Rocky movie without Clint or Sly. Ohh, man the seething anger at the thought of it. :-)

Reply

I think Magnum P.I. is a special situation regarding Hollywood remakes, it's combination of clever writing and casting broke through the fourth wall of formulaic detective shows. I think Magnum's successful 8 year run has won the heart and minds of many viewers around the world, similar to Happy Days, M.A.S.H, Cheers, and Star Trek (Star Wars and Superman too). Tampering with the Magnum P.I. series by recasting for a younger demographic would almost guarantee fan rejection. Certain properties were so successful, many fans treat each episode as gospel. Producers! Please take a page from Star Trek's play book. Once Star Trek: The Motion Picture hit the big screen, hundreds of thousands of fans were given a second lease on their favorite Sci-Fi show. Dedicated fans championed the Star Trek brand creating a franchise unmatched in popularity to this day. Would the Star Trek empire exist today if Kirk, Spock and McCoy were recast as younger versions of themselves? Doubt it.

Thomas Magnum is up there with Indiana Jones and Captain Kirk, a basic character brought to life by just the right actor. Tom Selleck's own personality added to the shows popularity with many people supporting the show after meeting the actor (I grew up around Magnum sets in Honolulu, and saw him all the time). Similar to Jack Lord (Hawaii 5-0) and Elvis Presley, Selleck became a favorite son of Hawaii, indirectly championing the 'laidback' lifestyle of Hawaii. And let me tell you, Hawai'i has seen more then it's fair share of detective shows (Hawaiian Eye, Hawaii 5-0, Jake and the Fatman, Marker!) by disregarding Sellecks reprisal of Magnum wouldn't sit well with the local community, trust me on that one. I think Matthew McConaughey might be the closest yet to match Selleck' swanger and humor, but he's too well known. If Harrison Ford can put on the Fedora again, Selleck can do this with ease. Make it happen people.

btw, my office is next door to Magnum's original office. awesome!

Reply

I think it is a horrible choice. Matt is so full of himself these days, that he can't bring the humility to the role that Tom did. Honestly, they could've done a reunion movie with the original cast, and a taught Bourne Supremacy kind of script and it would've rocked. There are some shows that you just don't mess with. There is nobody who can replace Tom Selleck as Magnum, PI . . . yet.

Reply

The only way this should be done is with the original cast, picking up the story. The only reason real Magnum fans would want to see this is to see where the characters are now. The Longhorn Loser would be a disater.

Reply

Perfect casting !!! McConaughey,Zahn,and Macy work so well together and with the future of the Dirk Pitt movies a foregone conclusion thanks to the negative
and overzealous reaction from Clive Cussler,it's nice to see this team working again in the action genre. They are a PERFECT fit to the concept of MAGNUM !!
Without a doubt,an outstanding choice,bar none !!!

Reply

McConaughey is the PERFERT Magnum PI--and whomever thinks he is not--well you are just CRAZY--he is beautiful!!!!!!

Reply

Anything with Matthew is AWESOME! Being full of himself is what adds to his charm. He does it in a non-condescending way. There is still some humbleness to his cocky ways. Ahhh! Not to mention he is so dreamy! I'll go see it! Sounds like a good cast.

Reply

I agree with #3 and #4. There has been only one actor and there will always be only one actor who has, can, or should portray Thomas Sullivan Magnum, and he is TOM SELLECK.

Listen up Hollywood, we will take NO SUBSTITUTES.

Reply

Hey people,don't worry about substitutes--it happens all the time. Even Sean Connery got too old for James Bond. Now everyone is thinking Daniel Craig. If these rumors are true then you know Matt McConaughey can become Magnum and give the series new life. Tom Selleck is too old now and he had his day. Besides MAGNUM was the reason he didn't get the role of Indiana Jones,something he regrets to this day. So give the "we want Tom back" a rest because it's not going to happen. McConaughey,Zahn,and Macy--brilliant casting !!!!

Reply