MacGyver reboot to “keep the soul of the original”

James Wan isn’t the first name you’d consider when you’re picturing the perfect creators to reboot one of the most iconic characters of all time. After all, he’s best known as a master of modern horror, creating the Saw, Insidious, and Conjuring franchises. But that can be deceiving since he’s also the director behind Furious 7, a slick action movie that grossed more than $1.5 billion worldwide, and he’s been tapped to direct DC’s first Aquaman feature.

Past directing credits aside, TV is a whole different animal than film. It’s something that Wan recognized when he, alongside Co-Executive Producer Peter M. Lenkor, sat down to talk MacGyver at San Diego Comic Con. “I could see myself doing MacGyver as my first foray into TV,” Wan said. “You could say that so far I’m MacGyvering my way through it.”

It is no small feat to try and reboot a beloved property. The original run of the show lasted for seven seasons and its title, MacGyver, literally became a verb to describe a creative and unexpected solution to a problem. In MacGyver, the challenge of successfully rebooting the show is magnified because the character is still synonymous with its original actor Richard Dean Anderson.

“We know people will be skeptical,” Lenkov said of fans who are weary of reboots. “But we’re not looking to recreate it. We’re looking to bring MacGyver into this world in a way that feels unique, while still capturing the soul of the original show.”

Finding the right actor to play the title role was crucial. MacGyver is cerebral, but physical as well. He abhors violence, leaning on it only as a last resort. They found what they were looking for in lead actor Lucas Till. “He has the swagger that is today, but he has old school sensibilities that connect him to the character’s roots,” said Wan.

That’s an exciting way to describe his lead, and with the trailer already posted, it’s hard not to be anxious to see what the new show will look like.

“Lucas is the right choice; you’ll see.”

MacGyver premieres on Friday Sept 23 8/7c, on CBS!

——————————

Thanks to James Wan and Peter M. Lenkov for chatting MacGyver at San Diego Comic Con