What Movies Has Jay Hernandez from ‘Magnum P.I.’ Been In?

Jay Hernandez is making waves as the star of the rebooted Magnum P.I. on CBS. While not everyone was on board when the network announced it was bringing back the classic ‘80s TV show, Hernandez has won over fans with his portrayal of Thomas Magnum, a role made famous by Tom Selleck.

TV viewers might not be too familiar with the 40-year-old California native Hernandez, but the actor and model has had a long career since his first role back in 1998.

Jay Hernandez’s previous movie and TV roles

Hernandez broke into acting in 1998 with a role as Antonio Lopez on the sitcom Hang Time, which aired on NBC. His first major movie role came in 2000, when he starred opposite Kirsten Dunst in Crazy/Beautiful. Critics praised his performance in the teen-focused drama, with Roger Ebert saying he brought “real conviction” to his role as Carlos, the focused, college-bound kid who falls for Dunst’s privileged, troubled character.

Hernandez followed up Crazy/Beautiful with a steady string of other movies, including a small part in the 2001 horror film Joy Ride and more prominent roles in two sports movies: The Rookie from 2002 and 2004’s Friday Night Lights.

In 2005, Hernandez starred in the gory Eli Roth horror film Hostel, as a backpacking college student who is kidnapped by a sadistic killer. He returned for the sequel Hostel: Part II in 2007. He was also seen in World Trade Center, Lakeview Terrace, Quarantine, and Nothing Like the Holidays.

On TV, he had a starring role in the short-lived ABC series Six Degrees, which aired from 2006 to 2007. He’s also had roles in Nashville, Last Resort, Gang Related, and The Expanse.

More recently, he played Mila Kunis’s love interest in Bad Moms and A Bad Moms Christmas, starred as El Diablo in Suicide Squad, and was in the Netflix movie Bright.

How he feels about stepping into Tom Selleck’s shoes

Hernandez has admitted that he was nervous about taking on the iconic Magnum P.I. role made famous by Tom Selleck.

“People are very attached to (the show) because it’s nostalgic for them; they have a connection to it,” Hernandez said in an interview with the New York Daily News. “I watched it growing up as a kid and I was a big fan of Tom and his portrayal of Magnum.”

“Initially, I was a little trepidatious myself about portraying such an iconic character,” he added. “But when I saw what the show was about and what they wanted to do with it, I realized it was something different. We’ve also introduced the show to a whole new demographic and a whole new audience. I think that’s cool.”

What’s next for Jay Hernandez?

Right now, it seems that Hernandez is staying focused on Magnum P.I. His IMDB page doesn’t list any upcoming projects. CBS hasn’t made a decision about whether the show will be renewed for Season 2.

Fans are also curious about whether Hernandez will return for a future Suicide Squad movie. While his El Diablo character seemingly didn’t survive the first film, an Instagram post from co-star Joel Kinnaman suggests that Hernandez might be getting ready for a sequel. We’ll have to be patient to find out what happens, since production on the film is still in its early stages.