If you’re not knee-deep into the science fiction genre, the terms ‘quantum leap’, ‘quantum jump’, and ‘the spacetime continuum’ will probably fly straight over your head.
Trust me, you’re not alone! Here’s a concept we surely all know, however: time travel!
Yes, that’s where all these terms intersect, and what forms the core of NBC’s newest upcoming science fiction series, Quantum Leap.
We say ‘newest’ series but in reality, Quantum Leap isn’t really all that new. As a matter of fact, the upcoming season is largely considered to be the show’s sixth – as it’s the beginning of a reboot for the original series that ran from 1989 to 1993!
Now, news of this reboot first came way back in January 2020, when the network’s head of program planning and strategy Jeff Bader announced it for the launch of NBC’s streaming service, Peacock. Two whole years later, a pilot episode was ordered and in May, the series was greenlit.
With that, here’s everything we know so far about this season six reboot (and a refresher of the original series too, while we’re at it!).
Who’s in charge?
Donald Bellisario (Magnum P.I., JAG, NCIS) created the parent series and remains involved in the reboot as well, as executive producers alongside Deborah Pratt and Martin Gero.
Working with them are showrunners Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt, and Dean Georgaris, the latter of whom joined the team just in July.
As for production studios, Universal Studios (under the Universal Studio Group) is producing in association with Belisarius Productions, I Have An Idea! Entertainment, and Quinn’s House Productions.
What’s Quantum Leap about?
In the original Quantum Leap series, viewers followed Dr. Sam Beckett and his journey through various points in time; the physicist and his best friend Admiral Al Calavicci were conducting experiments that had Dr. Beckett time traveling by jumping through other peoples’ bodies in order to fix mistakes in history.
Now, the reboot begins almost three decades later, after Dr. Beckett disappears in the Quantum Leap accelerator and is never heard from again.
The new protagonist is fellow physicist Dr. Ben Song, part of a team assembled to unravel the mysteries surrounding Dr. Beckett’s disappearance, the machine, and the scientist himself.
Ben follows in his footsteps, beginning a thrilling adventure for himself and the team.
Who will we see?
Dr. Ben Song will be played by Raymond Lee, best known for his regular role in Kevin Can F**k Himself and Mozart in the Jungle.
Members of his team include an Army veteran and hologram (who, like in the original series, only Ben can see and hear) named Addison, played by Caitlin Bassett.
As well as career military man and head of the project Herbert “Magic” Williams, played by Ernie Hudson (Oz, Ghostbusters); head of the team’s Artificial Intelligence unit Ian Wright, played by Mason Alexander Park from the recently premiered The Sandman; and Jenn Chou, head of the project’s digital security, to be played by Nanrisa Lee (American Horror Story, Westworld).
NBC’s Quantum Leap reboot is set to premiere on September 19, 2022, as part of the network’s fall lineup.