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TL;DR: 

  • CBS canceled Magnum P.I. after four seasons. 
  • The show’s producer is reportedly shopping the series around to different networks and streaming services. 
  • While fans are hopeful, there’s no guarantee the show will be renewed. 
Perdita Weeks in a black sleeveless top and Jay Hernandez in a Hawaiian shirt in 'Magnum P.I.', which was recently canceled by CBS.
Perdita Weeks as Juliet Higgins and Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum in the ‘Magnum P.I.’ Season 4 finale | Zack Dougan/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Is there hope for a Magnum P.I. Season 5 after all? Fans of the Hawaii-set procedural were stunned when CBS abruptly canceled the show in early May. But now, there are reports that the show’s producer is shopping the series around to other networks and streaming services. 

‘Magnum P.I.’ canceled after season 4 finale 

The Magnum P.I. cancellation news came just days after the show’s season 4 finale. The reboot of the 1980s Tom Selleck series was popular with audiences, averaging 7.3 million viewers per episode in its final season, and many were surprised when CBS decided not to move forward with more episodes.

So, why was Magnum P.I. canceled? According to a report from Deadline, CBS and the show’s producer Univeral TV could not come to an agreement over a new licensing deal. A strong lineup of new series for next season may also have been a factor in the cancellation. 

“You have some tough decisions to make and you have lots of factors – and I’m not going to rule [the licensing fee] out as one of them,” CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl told TVLine. “It was a great team to work with, and one of the tougher decisions we had to make.” 

Could ‘Magnum P.I.’ be saved?

Though Magnum P.I. won’t be returning to CBS this fall, there are now signs that the show could live on at another network or streaming service. TVLine reports that Universal TV is trying to shop the series around. 

That’s good news for Magnum P.I. fans who aren’t ready to say goodbye to Jay Hernandez’s Thomas Magnum and the rest of the show’s characters. But it’s not a guarantee the show will be revived for a fifth season. 

Fans share messages of support on social media 

Related

The Real Reason ‘Blue Bloods’ Star Tom Selleck Left ‘Magnum P.I.’

Strong fan campaigns have helped save shows such as Sanditon and Manifest. Now, Magnum P.I. viewers are making their voices heard in the hopes that someone will step in and un-cancel their favorite show. A Change.org petition in support of season 5 has more than 12,000 signatures. Fans have also been tweeting with the hashtag #SaveMagnumPI. 

Many viewers are particularly eager to see what’s next for Magnum and Higgins (Perdita Weeks), who finally shared a kiss in the last moments of the season 4 finale. 

“We finally get what we’ve wanted and they pull the plug on the show,” one fan tweeted. “Unbelievable.”

Magnum P.I. Season 4 is currently streaming on Paramount+.

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