(Photo: CarlaVanWagoner / Shutterstock.com.)
Last month, we reported news out of Comic-Con that the retooled MacGyver TV show reboot on CBS wants to bring on the original Angus MacGyver — Richard Dean Anderson — in some fashion. The new series stars Lucas Till in the title role. The cast also includes George Eads, Sandrine Holt, Justin Hires, and Tristan Mays.
Reporting from the TCA summer presser for CBS, The Wrap writes showrunner Peter Lenkov said the new production has been talking to Anderson’s reps, adding, “We hope he says yes.” Lenkov executive produces with Craig O’Neill, James Wan, Henry Winkler, Lee Zlotoff, and Michael Clear. Last month though, in response to the Comic-Con based stories, Anderson sounded decidedly unwilling to have anything to do with the new MacGyver.
Check out the pair of notes Anderson sent to RDAnderson.com site runner Kate Ritter, which she posted on July 24th and 25th.
“NOTE FROM RICK”
MACGYVER REBOOT
July 24, 2016Last October it was announced that CBS Television Studios was preparing to reboot MacGyver as a series for television.
The production has undergone a number of changes and revisions, and last week at Comic-Con in San Diego, the producers and cast introduced the new series and mentioned that they had “reached out” to Richard Dean Anderson. Since then, there has been much speculation about whether Richard would be involved in the project in some way.
Richard offered his perspective first in a brief text, notable mostly for his completely unexplained use of a “disco” icon as his signature.
July 24, 2016
Wylie is just arriving, so this is a teaser:
Huge overhaul of personnel at the new MacGyver: producers, writers, actors, etc. The promo people for CBS/MacGyver called my agent to see if I would be interetsted in helping to promote their show.
I’ll email you tomorrow-ish… my girl is here!
randerson
“NOTE FROM RICK” Richard followed up his earlier text with an email in which he explained why he would not be appearing in the new MacGyver reboot.
MACGYVER REBOOT
July 25, 2016July 25, 2016
So many people have responded to the attempted “reboot” of the MacGyver franchise, and a lot of people have asked me if I’m going to be in the new show, or am I going to produce it, or, yada.
And all I can say is, I’m not considering being a part of a project that has overlooked the insanely LOYAL FANS of the original character and has proceeded without considering how and why they all became and STAYED loyal fans…
Yes, I was asked, but no, I won’t be involved in the MacGyver reboot. I have tried to recognize that there really is a balance to be found here. Hence, my loyalty to my fans.
Anderson, Rick
(Anderson’s words bolded above, for emphasis.)
Sure, things can and do change. Perhaps CBS can build a trap out of a paperclip, kitchen twine, bubble gum, duct tape, and some cold hard cash, to snare the original recipe Mac. MacGyver premieres Friday, September 23, 2016 on CBS.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the old MacGyver TV show? If Anderson takes a role in the reboot, would it make you more likely to watch?
I really like the new show. I also think it would have been interesting to have the new Mac be the son of the original with new characters. However, the show is growing on me and they have kept with the themes of the original show in a lot of ways. I wish RDA would reconsider and be on the show as a cameo as either a relative or as Harry! That would be poetic.
The reboot is not bad, but it’s a little too fast paced for the character. Part of the joy in watching MacGyver get out of situations was that he was often alone, in a quiet place…not surrounded by a team of action heroes (no offense to the talented cast). Speaking of which, the new cast is larger and carrying their on story lines. Probably necessary so the no one has to carry the load like Anderson did (although back then…a lot of RDA made for good t.v.), but it does take away from the magic of Mac! Overall, not a… Read more »
That is EXACTLY what I have been saying! It should have been his SON with all his own friends. With Richard coming on every once in a while the way grandpa harry did in the original. How hard would that have been?! Honestly, slapping the same names on people with completely different personalities and in some cases GENDER…, is so ridiculous. Not to mention the back stories on the characters don’t match up even a little bit. I just need to let it be its own show. But as a die-hard fan of the original… it’s hard!
I didn’t think they needed to name Mac’s partner “Jack Dalton,” but I’m okay with it. I like the dynamic of the show now that it’s settled in a bit, and I’m glad they’re not trying to completely redo the old series. The changes to Mac working for a company and not being an independent contractor, and the addition of Riley and Bozer have been good. And while I wasn’t sure ay first, I like the addition of Maddy Webber instead of Patricia Thornton. I think the new series is setting itself up as a respectful homage to the original… Read more »
I am a fan of new and old. My wife and I cant wait every week for the new episode. Yes i would be even more likely to watch if Anderson would join the team.. I was a sg1 fan mostly due to his role. Even if he wasn’t on this new macgyver i would like to see him in something. Movies TV whichever……
i completely agree the whole reason i started watching sg1 was because of RDA i admit i started watching the old macgyver at about the age of 12 or 13 and he was one of my first crushes im now 38 and still think he was hot at both macgyver and oneil i was actually bummed when he left sg1 was always hopeing for a story line where he and sam wound up as a couple.
I don’t think it’s possible for a reboot to be as good or better than the oringinal. But it would be nice to see something from the oringinal…like Murdoc! Bringing that villain back would be classic. I also would like to see some local stories where Macguyver helps inner city kids or a town from a corrupt official just like the oringinal. Saving the world from biological weapons and terrorists is starting to get cliche these days…
spoiler alert
he returns or returned
I don’t know why you have to be a fan of either the original or the reboot rather than being a fan of both. I grew up with the original and was skeptical of the reboot, too, but once I watched it I found I really enjoyed it. It’s an updated version with some changes, sure, but it still maintains the pace and feel and heart of the original. What if the original MacGyver and Jack were dads to the new ones? Or maybe they just run into each other in a cafe and do a double take at each… Read more »
I personally fell in love with the original MacGyver watching it as a child with my mother. As i got older i started watching it again. I have and always will love the ORIGINAL Mac. It’s not just another tv series to reboot. MacGyver has become iconic to those who are true fans and can really appreciate it for who he was. You can’t reboot that into a new series. He didn’t need fancy equipement to get the job done. He used his wits, and his knowledge of physics to get the job done. This new series is way beyond… Read more »
I enjoyed the original series. I thought ot was in bad taste to use the fetilizer in episode 2 as Winkler Rich had legal issues with that on the old series. Lucas Till seems to fit the bill but Richard Dean Anderson was a very unique actor and I’ll always remember how credible he is. -MED
I loved the original series, and was a huge fan, but I’m also watching this new version of it, and it too has been great so far. I hope they keep it around for a long time.
I for one WON’T be watching the reboot of MacGyver…there was and always will be only one Macgyver… Richard dean Anderson. .. loved him in stargate as well…
Some things simply cannot be rebooted or replicated. McGyver captured the entirety of my youth and imagination. I honestly wouldn’t want to taint my memories or override them with a ‘wanna be’ simply because some bright spark thought they could make a bundle of money off of the idea of an icon such as Richard Anderson. Maybe the youth of today would disagree and enjoy a remake but for a true fan…No, just no.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t old to watch or remember the original series, since I was born two years after the series premiered. Now it’s the 21st century and with a tech driven era it’s about time they modernized some of these old shows. I am watching the original series now via the internet and personally I feel Richard Dean Anderson made due with what he had for 80s TV. If this show rocks like it should given advances in the tech world, I think he’s foolish for not being part of it, rather than isolating himself out of respect for his… Read more »
I personally don’t agree with you, because the Producers decided to create a Prequel to the original series. So why does the Prequel have to Play nowadays?
I loved the original McGyver, loved Richard Dean Anderson, would dream of meeting someone like him, so cute.
The show was great with all the clever ways he made things to help him along on his expeditions. To this day I
still use anything clever I do and say Mcgyver. I’d love to see him in the remake show, but that is up to him.
I’m going to see it tonight and see how it goes.
I grew up with Richard Dean Anderson’s portrayal of McGyver. I have had the opportunity to view the previews for the reboot and find the words cheesy. I also looked at the action in the previews and find them a bit over acted. No offense to the new cast but I will always be loyal to the original cast… I will continue watching the original McGyver via Netflix or some other means….
Thank you Mr.Anderson for the memories..
A fan of chocolate bars, matches, Swiss army knives, and foil chewing gum wrappers, etc.
I would make Richard Dean Anderson the father of the new MacGyver and I’ll bet you more people would watch it. We’re all in love with Richard Dean MacGyver. He would lend a more interesting plate to the rolls.
I completely agree, Grace Miller. That is all I could think, while writing this story.
he would have to play harry as mac’s dad died in a car accident when he was a kid