(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 say he’s right to refuse being part of the MacGyver reboot. The new reboot stinks! I’m a die-hard fan of the original MacGyver.
I am a huge fan of the original MacGuyver with Richard Dean Anderson. So, I understand his comments. This new MacGuyver just doesn’t have the “it factor” that the original had. For one, it’s called MacGuyver not “Team Phoenix”. The show should follow the same formula as the original but in modern times. I have been wishing that Richard Dean Anderson would return as the Grandfather that taught this generations Mac those cool tricks of his. That would have been a cool homage and hopefully a way of steering the series back into a direction that acknowledged the original. Sadly,… Read more »
I have been a big fan of Richard Dean Anderson he was portraying the orginial MacGyver. I met Richard in 1992 and he was and still is a very sincere human. He cares for his fans unlike other celebrities I had met. As for him making an appearance on the reboot, no! In my eyes (and opinion), Richard is the one and only MacGyver!
I met Richard in 1990 on the set of MacGyver, such a nice warm man, no one can ever replace Richard in this role. Period.
I would enjoy watching anderson save his son at a explosion. He doesn’t know he has a grandson Augus. Anderson takes his son to a campsite for his son to heal. Anderson has a lot of traps set to stop who’s trying to kill son.
I really liked the original MacGyver show. If Richard Anderson will not be in the reboot, it really isn’t worth watching. Like Beauty and the Beast, without Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton it’s not with watching. Some things just can’t be brought back. The original , is the original.
I will never watch any remake from any show. The original Mc Gyver was a great show with Richard Dean Anderson. This new one sucks.
To producers: please leave alone all original past shows. Get some new ideas
No I tried watching the new Mcgyver one time did not like it. Nobody can play Mcgyver like Richard Dean Anderson. I own all seasons of the original Mcgyver. It’s kinda like the new Hawaii 5-0 I watched it but nobody played Steve McGarrett like Jack Lord. I own all 12 seasons of that too.
I am a 68 year old mom/ and grandma who has been a fan of r Anderson since his Dr Weber on G H ..ai watched him on stargate SG1. Following macgyver for seven seasons. thanks for letting us know you care. About your loyal fans who really enjoyed how you brought the show to life,with honestly,and family values
Great clean show..
It’s so pathetic how these reboots try so desperately to get legitimacy by trying to manipulate the stars that made these shows classics. Tom Selleck didn’t fall for it and it’s good RDA isn’t falling for it either.
Rather than a reboot, this should have been a “Son of MacGyver” from the beginning. Thank god the classic series is back on TV. My old lady won’t watch either of them. Says the new one doesn’t have the feel or look that made the series what it was, but also feels that the classic is every bit as cheesy & dated as Star Trek TOS.
Papang, yes I would watch it more
I loved the original series. Matter of fact, I’m watching an episode now. I also love the new version and wish it was on every week. I have been hoping that Richard Dean Anderson would make an appearance in some fashion. I thought he might show up as his grandfather and that he would have a reoccurring roll. I hope that he will reconsider for loyal and new fans.
I am an original fan of the old Macgyver and a fan of the new. RDA was my role model in those years and I would be greatfull to see him in the new show in some way. He should give more consiterate thought to being on the new Macgyver. I think his fans would like to see him again, as a Macgyver of some sort. Thank you for the opportunity to give my input.
Love old and new MacGyver but why is it not on every week. I certainly am disappointed when I get set to watch and find something else on in its place.