Time to step back in the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanish! 

In news bound to please genre fans, various news outlets are reporting that the new Quantum Leap pilot has been successfully received. The revived show now has a series order, aimed at the 2022/23 US television season.

The late 80s/early 90’s feelgood time travel show, which ran for five seasons, starred Scott Bakula and the late, great Dean Stockwell. Creating project Quantum Leap and time-travelling within his own lifetime, Dr Sam Beckett (Bakula) became trapped; leaping from life to life and changing history for the better, all the while hoping to leap home. On his journey, his only link to home was the wise-cracking hologram Al (Stockwell).

The new version of the story picks up in the present day as another scientist restarts Sam Beckett’s time travel project. That scientist is Dr Ben Seong, played by Raymond Lee and there’s a new first-look snap of his character too.

Here’s the premise for the new Quantum Leap series:

“It’s been 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now a new team has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.”

A new cast

Along with Raymond Lee, the show also stars Ernie Hudson as Herbert “Magic” Williams; a character from an episode of the original show, Sam Beckett positively affected his life. We expect him to fulfil the “Al” role in the show, as Ben Seong’s connection to the present day. He will apparently use his political and military knowhow to keep the Pentagon at bay.

The rest of the cast includes Catlin Bassett as Addison, who operates the project’s technology,  Nanrisa Lee as Jenn, the project’s head of security and Mason Alexander Park as Ian, Chief Architect of Quantum Leap’s AI program.

Interestingly, Deadline notes that the pilot is slated for some reshoots, although they are suggested to be for direction rather than casting.

The show’s writers are Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt. The pair also executive produce along with Martin Gero and Quantum Leap’s creator Donald P. Bellisario. As does Deborah Pratt, narrator of the original show’s famous opening spiel.

The series comes from Universal Television, with Lilien and Wynbrandt exec producing for their I Have an Idea! Entertainment, Bellisario for Belisarius Productions and Martin Gero for Quinn’s House Productions.

While there’s still no mention of a Scott Bakula appearance, given the show’s premise we remain hopeful.

We’ll keep you posted as the new Quantum Leap series develops. “Oh boy!”