‘Quantum Leap’ Reboot Picked Up To Series By NBC

NBC, traditionally the first broadcast network to present its fall lineup at the upfronts, once again became the first net to give a series order to a pilot. It went to Quantum Leap, a reboot of the popular 1990s sci-fi drama, which stars Raymond Lee. (First-look photo above)

As Deadline reported in the Early Pilot Buzz story earlier this week, Quantum Leap appeared a lock for a series pickup with Lee poised to potentially become one of the breakout stars of next season. It is NBC’s only 2022 drama pilot that was in consideration for the fall schedule; two others Unbroken and Blank Slate, would be evaluated for a launch in November or midseason.

I hear the Quantum Leap pilot will undergo some reshoots. They are said to be related to the direction, not casting. In addition to Raymond Lee, the cast also includes Caitlin Bassett, Ernie Hudson, Mason Alexander Park and Nanrisa Lee.

The pickup also will likely be the first of several this season for projects based on popular IP, something the broadcast networks rely more and more in the an uphill battle for eyeballs. The Rookie spinoff is a frontrunner at ABC; the CW only has IP-based pilots with Walker: Independence, the Supernatural; prequel The Winchesters and Gotham Knights.

Written and executive produced by Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt and executive produced by Martin Gero as well as Quantum Leap creator/EP Don Bellisario and EP/co-narrator Deborah Pratt, the follow-up series is set in present time. It’s been 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) 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.

The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, with Lilien and Wynbrandt exec producing for their I Have an Idea! Entertainment, Bellisario for his Belisarius Productions, and Gero via his Quinn’s House Productions.