Quantum Leap EPs Reassure Fans About Ernie Hudson's Role In Season 2

Quantum Leap's "Magic" isn't going to vanish into thin air.

Co-showrunner Martin Gero confirms to TVLine that Ernie Hudson's Herbert "Magic" Williams, who led the Quantum Leap project in Season 1 of the NBC drama, will not be replaced by Peter Gadiot's Tom Westfall, who debuts next Wednesday. A previous casting announcement revealed that Tom will oversee the Quantum Leap project in Season 2, leaving fans concerned about how that would impact Magic's role in the new season.

"[Tom is] alongside Magic on more of an administrative level, and you'll see [in] Episode 2 what that means," Gero explains. "But no, we would never get rid of the legendary Ernie Hudson, who continues to be an incredible presence on the show. In fact, we get to learn even more about Magic this year. We really have the space for it in such an incredible way."

Co-showrunner Dean Georgaris notes that if anything, "Tom gives Magic another person to talk to, and to talk about a subject that we didn't get to talk to that much in Season 1, which is the greater purpose of a project like Quantum Leap. We get to see and hear Magic's perspective on, 'What is the technology really about and what are we supposed to do?'"

How the Quantum Leap project will proceed moving forward remains a big question mark, though, considering the major plot twist in the Season 2 premiere.

The episode confirmed that Ben didn't make it home after his last jump in the Season 1 finale, instead landing in the body of a soldier in 1978. Ian later explained that Ben had been missing for three years, and that everyone at headquarters thought he was dead. As a result, the Quantum Leap project was shut down.  

Are you relieved that Magic will be sticking around Quantum Leap full-time in Season 2? What do you hope to see in new episodes?