Add another entry to the “Hollywood has run out of ideas” file. CBS is bringing back the secret agent adventure series MacGyver. The show, which ran on ABC from 1985 to 1992, starred Richard Dean Anderson – and his magnificent blond mullet – as a secret agent who could get out of any predicament by cobbling together household items into weapons and such.
The show’s creator, Lee Zlotoff, is definitely passionate about ruining our childhood memories. He actually considered filing a copyright infringement lawsuit against the producers of the 2010 SNL-born parody MacGruber as it potentially interfered with his plans for a reboot. Now he’s bringing the character back for his origin story. The new series is going to be a prequel, focusing on a young, aspiring agent who had probably just graduated from making baking soda volcanoes at the science fair.
Young MacGyver is being played by 25-year-old Lucas Till, who played Havoc in the X-Men prequels and appeared in the video for Taylor Swift’s song “You Belong with Me.” A few weeks ago, CSI‘s George Eads was the first actor cast for the reboot, playing a government employee named Lincoln. Director James Wan, best known for Saw, was supposed to direct the pilot, but due to scheduling conflicts had to step down. He will still serve as an executive producer for the project along with Henry “The Fonz” Winkler, who was an executive producer on the original series. James was also tied to a failed big screen version of MacGyver back in 2012.
Is it just me, or is anyone else getting a little tired of all of these reboots and remakes? I sure am, but so far the networks haven’t succeeded in getting their hands on some of my favorite TV series. Trust me, if I hear of a reboot of Bosom Buddies or Square Pegs, heads will roll.
Photo credit: Getty Images, WENN.com
Of course now that it was mentioned, someone in Hollywood is going to pitch the idea of a Bosom Buddies and Square Pegs reboot.
If MacGyver was done as a spoof/animated show featuring Marge’s( The Simpsons) two MacGyver loving, chainsmoking sisters playing his bosses that would be a riot.
Reboots tend to be a hit and miss affair anyway, seem to be just Hollywood being too lazy to think up new ideas.
My predication for next reboot: Laverne & Shirley or Happy Days
Happy Days! Happy Days! Happy Days! My absolute favorite as a child! I even met the Fonz when he was at his peak. I was the coolest kid in 4th grade 🙂 I still have the photo and the autograph.
I liked the X Files reboot and hope there will be more. There had better be, since they left so much hanging.
It’s not just you. I’m sick of reboots too. I know what Macguyver was and the gist but was a little young when it was on. I don’t recall a big demand for its return.
I don’t know. People in my generation use “McGuyver” as a verb, so I can imagine some interest. The kid being cast does seem awfully young, though.
Lordy, you couldn’t pay me to watch it the first time. No thanks.
I remember watching that show a lot as a kid, my neighborhood best friend had a crush on him! Like everyone else I’m tired of the reboots, but at least this is an older property and not something that was just recently done.
It’s “MacGyver”, and nooooooooo.
Can’t think of this show without thinking of Patty and Selma Bouvier…
I just posted that! I am glad someone else was thinking the same thing!
Great minds and all that! 🙂
I was totally just thinking of Patty and Selma too! Sideshow Bob is going to be pissed about this!
He’s kind of cute, but I don’t understand all the reboots. Some of the reboots were great shows/movies in their own right…but we’ve gotten plenty of stupid reboots too. I would think it would be cheaper, and at least potentially more interesting to just create a NEW show (no paying for rights) that has a similar premise with a twist.
I can’t staaaand ghost busters (but I’m going to forgive Paul Fieg/”Mr. Pool” because of the good will he got from me for Freaks and Geeks), Charlies Angels, Knight Rider, etc. I don’t know if it’s just that I’ve never really gotten into 80’s movies or tv shows (sorry guys, I’m biased, I was born in 1990 – my younger brother makes up for it though, he’s in love with so many amazingly campy 80’s movies) or if it’s just that I can’t get past how cheesy some of the originals were.
I think though – at this point, you have a lot of people my age, or about a decade older sliding into their dream jobs – which were inspired by all the great shows they watched as kids, and wanting to pay homage to them. Honestly, I don’t think it’s pure laziness, I do tend to believe that there are people out there that were just so inspired by what they watched as kids that it really sparked their career, and they want to honor that.
That being said – it’s just not always good. Which is why taking a similar story and tossing a cool twist on it would be great – then you get to have a show inspired by one of the greats – but if it’s a flop, you’re not going to be sullying the name. A lot of people are so sentimental about the shows/movies that they love – that if things don’t represent character the way THEY imagined them, or were used to them, they get angry.
I tired of of so much stuff I have to avoid reading about them.. but I am going to be in the minority here.
I don’t mind a MacGuyver reboot.. it was a fun show.. I like how they used Science in the show. You could learn a lot by watching it. I missed the days when there were shows that parents could actually watch with their kids. This could be that kind of show if they do it right.
But I saw this and SMH.. it is never going to end people.. EVER
http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/movies/248590/93-movie-remakes-and-reboots-currently-in-the-works
I just read that list lisa and now I’m both depressed and pissed. The Craft, Cube, Akira, Das Boot, Crow, Big Trouble In Little China, Escape from New York, even freaking Flatliners?
So they’re just going to remake and or reboot every damn thing?! Gah!!!!!!
Escape from New York, Jacob’s Ladder, Naked Gun, Scarface, The Warriors!!
Creatively bankrupt Hollywood should burn in hell. Depressed and pissed is right.
Good point about it being a family show. Our kids are years apart and it’s hard to find shows that everyone will like.
This! I was so excited about seeing MacGyver back on to watch with my 10-yr-old & 6-yr-old boys. There is not a lot on TV for us to watch as a family so I’ll take this one! P.S.- I loved MacGyver as a kid and use it as a verb a lot.
I hope they use the same Science advisor who came up that stuff. He’s also a very famous gemologist and author in that field.
http://www.microworldofgems.com/aboutjohn.php
That kid still looks like a baby. Either that or I’ve gone over to the other side in age bracket where everyone under 30 looks like a child.
We can hang out over here together, because yes, he looks practically fetal. Maybe it’s the haircut, a variant of the same one so many little boys have been wearing lately.
‘he looks practically fetal”- I’m laughing at loud (and kind of grossed out too)
It’s the too-far-apart eyebrows. Did somebody get carried away waxing off a unibrow? Or are the brows really that undeveloped?
As long as the mullet doesn’t come back. That would be the ultimate tragedy.
Agree on the mullet!!!
I’m not sure that anyone asked for the Tomb Raider reboot either, and yet it’s still happening. It’s like what Tina Fey and Amy Poehler said about Hollywood at the Golden Globes – it finds something that kinda works and keeps doing it until everyone hates it.
On another note, Lucas Till’s hair is really working for me.
I’m just here for the hilarious headline. Nice job, Corey!
It’s just so uncreative. How many writers are there just in Hollywood alone, and all we get are retreads? Male-oriented retreads?
And ageist retreads to boot! Richard Dean Anderson was the reason my mom, and I’m assuming other women, too, watched. Wouldn’t a more interesing show be where MacGyver is now? How have his skills improved?
Women can be interested in engineering as well…
I recently rewatched the show for s & gs. It was pretty awful, I must say. I love Anderson, but, wow. So beyond Velveeta.
No Richard Dean Anderson, no interest.
Just how did the Phoenix Foundation make money? How were they funded? We, the people, have a right to know.
What caught my eye was George Eads being cast. CSI was on CBS and now MacGuyver is on CBS. George had some sort of salary dispute when he was on CSI back in the day. He was momentarily fired on CSI and then he got in to an altercation with a pregnant writer a few years ago and was suspended for a few episodes. I had a feeling that CBS was not happy working with George. I guess I was wrong.
I loved this show, but I can’t take all these reboots either. We went to see 10 Cloverfield lane last weekend and I couldn’t believe all the trailers, so many reboots, sequels, prequels, and whatever, not many truly original films coming up, sad.
its a NO for me (simon cowell voice)
No.
Hell, I watched tons of MacGyver as a kid, loved it!
I don’t mind the reboot, but I’m not sure I’m going to watch it though…
Lucas Till as MacGyver. No. Just no. MacGyver was my first true crush at age 9.I would spend all day long fantasizing about him. Kinky stuff too, I have no idea where that came from. Well, that’s a story for my therapist, not Celebitchy. Anyway, I’m 31 and I would still hit RDA, even now! I can’t believe that they’re doing this! And that Lucas fellow does NOT have Richard Dean Anderson’s charm. Oh, Richard!
It’s “MacGyver” not MacGuyver, people!
I was a huge fan back in the day and I don’t mind a reboot. Hey, if it gets kids interested in science and everyone has fun, I reckon it’s a good thing.
Yes! I asked and my prayers have been answered. As I said up thread, I have 10 & 6 year old boys and hardly anything to watch together on TV. I am excited for this sciency, face palming, stupid show to be back on. Bring on the popcorn! P.S.- if they show scary & violent commercials during this show I’m going to be so mad……
no one asked for this. I remember this show has a kid and it wasn’t that good. hollyweird is out of ideas :/