In news that will please all 90s geeks. The long-rumoured comeback of Quantum Leap has moved a significant step closer to becoming a reality.
A revival of the iconic 1990s sci-fi series starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell has been handed a pilot order by NBC.
Dr Sam Beckett (Bakula) stepped inside the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished 30 years ago.
A new team has been formed to relaunch the project in the hopes of unravelling the mysteries surrounding the machine and the man who built it.
It’s currently unknown if Bakula is attached to reprise his role or producing the new Quantum Leap but apparently has had conversations about potentially getting involved.
Bakula’s co-star on the original series, Dean Stockwell, died in November at age 85.
The original NBC series, which aired 97 episodes from 1989-93, featured Bakula’s physicist Sam Beckett time-hop through various eras by “leaping” into the bodies of other people. Stockwell played Beckett’s sidekick, Admiral Al Calavicci, who appeared as a hologram to guide him through the weekly adventures.
Last year, Scott Bakula told the late Bob Segat on his podcast:
“The rights were a mess for years. I don’t know if they’re even sorted out now. That’s always been the biggest complication,” he said back then. Bakula added that he had spoken occasionally to series creator Bellisario over the years about a potential comeback, “and he would always say, ‘I can’t write it without thinking of you and Dean.’”
The reboot will be written and executive produced by La Brea co-showrunners Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt and executive produced by Blindspot creator Martin Gero as well as Quantum Leap creator/EP Don Bellisario and EP/co-narrator Deborah Pratt.