The reboot of the television series “Magnum P.I.” briefly considered the idea of casting original franchise star Tom Selleck as Robin Masters. The original Magnum P.I. show aired from 1980 to 1988 and followed Selleck’s character, a Navy SEAL turned private investigator named Thomas Magnum, who lived and worked at Robin’s Nest, a Hawaiian estate owned by the fictional author Robin Masters. However, the role of Robin Masters was never seen on-screen, only heard on rare occasions, voiced by Orson Welles.
When the reboot of “Magnum P.I.” premiered in 2018, it similarly kept Robin Masters off-screen and voiced by an anonymous actor. However, as the series came to a close, showrunner Eric Guggenheim revealed that there was a playful discussion about bringing Selleck on board. Guggenheim admitted that while it was enjoyable to entertain the idea, it was never a serious possibility.
Although Selleck did not end up making a cameo appearance on the reboot, he did give his blessing to the new series. During an interview at San Diego Comic-Con in 2018, Selleck’s successor in the role, Jay Hernandez, jokingly mentioned that Selleck had sent him “his mustache in a glass case.” The executive producers of the reboot also confirmed that Selleck had been supportive of the new show.
In conclusion, the reboot of “Magnum P.I.” toyed with the idea of casting Tom Selleck as Robin Masters, but it never materialized. Selleck, who portrayed the original Thomas Magnum, gave his approval to the reboot and maintained a positive relationship with the cast and crew. Ultimately, the character of Robin Masters remained an off-screen presence throughout both iterations of the show.