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?
Surely this is just a case of Hudson being off shooting a Ghostbusters movie last Spring, so they needed a character who could fill in when he was filming elsewhere,
From reading the article, it sounds like Magic is there so Ernie Hudson was not off filming Ghostbusters.
I’m definitely glad Magic will still be around because he is associated with the original show members and he is emotionally vested in the project. I would really like to see fewer characters involved in each episode now. Last season there was a pretty big group of support personnel at the lab and it took away from the time on the actual leap. I’d like to see more of Ben and Addison in each episode. The interactions and the relationship that Sam had with Al was fantastic!
Well it looks like they are more like the old show where it is going to focus on the leap and not half and half
If the character was supposed to be Tom Beckett why would they call him Tom Westfall? Tom Beckett would have no reason to be hiding his identity. Plus, he we pull be older than this guy. In 2023, Sam would be 70 years old so Tom would be about 75. This guy isn’t that old.
I’m glad Magic is back along with Ian. However, I hate that Addison has moved on with a new man. While Tom seems supportive, he should have released her to go back to Ben. If they don’t get back together, I don’t think there will be another season for me.
Released her? You think Addison was captured by Tom? It didn’t seem like she wanted to be released, as you put it. From what was said Addison had gone to a dark place because they couldn’t find Ben, then they declared him dead, which made it worse, and Tom saved her from that. Why would she just drop him? Realistically, Ben probably won’t be able to come back so should she throw away a real relationship with a guy she can spend time with and touch for one with Ben where they are always trying to get through a Leap with no down time and can not ever touch?
Yes really like him as an actor and his character he plays the role grear
Not happy with this three year time jump. Those rarely work out well for a show when they do that.
Sam , Ben , and Magic in a universal dream or is it ….hmm
Very Relieved Because I LOVE Ernies character of Magic
Absolutely. Magic. Ernie Hudson. Favorite character and actor on the show. The only one I knew too. Keeps me watching. He should start jumping too. Add more layers. Someone should tell the writers :)
Yes most definitely.. is there a morsel chance that Scott Bakula will make a appearance .. somehow or somewhere???
I truly hope Tom Westfall is really Tom Beckett.
If the character was supposed to be Tom Beckett why would they call him Tom Westfall? Tom Beckett would have no reason to be hiding his identity. Plus, he we pull be older than this guy. In 2023, Sam would be 70 years old so Tom would be about 75. This guy isn’t that old.
Loved the new episode but they didn’t fact check the year very well. I saw the episode description indicating it was 1978. When the LT indicated that she had gone to the academy I thought they had to have the year wrong in the description. The US military academies didn’t admit women until 1976 so the 1st women graduated in 1980. I was entering my senior year in high school in 76 so it was a really big deal at the time.
Yes
Did anyone else think that Tom’s voice and mannerisms are very similar to Ben’s? Is this just a coincidence? Does Addison have a “type”? Or did Ben leap into Tom?