“The show is so iconic and beloved, it felt crazy to do a version with a new Sam and a new Al,” Quantum Leap showrunner and executive producer Martin Gero said of the NBC revival during a TCA press conference. “It really made sense for this to be a continuation of the story with a brand-new set of characters, one that could honor the old show, pay service to the old show, but, have a really low bar for entry for new viewers.” Set nearly 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished, the new series not only honors the past but welcomes in new audiences and cast members.
(Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
“What connects Ben Song and Sam Beckett are the main tenets of their belief in doing good and what it means to be empathetic,” explained Raymond Lee, who stars as the new leader. “Through that, as they pass through bodies, they'll have a joint experience of agreeing on the fact that they're both doing right what once went wrong.” Raymond has fond memories of watching the original Quantum Leap with his best friend as a kid, but starring in the revival is the opportunity of a lifetime. “It's an actor's dream to not only be in different periods with different projects but to do it all in one. It's the roles of a lifetime. I'm having so much fun.”
“We just get the coolest cars and the coolest clothes,” shared Caitlin Bassett, who plays Addison, an army veteran who appears as a hologram that only Ben can see. Like Addison, Caitlin served her country. “A lot of people join the military for a lot of different reasons, but most of it's because that's one of their best options. And I was in, and it was an amazing experience, a growing experience. I've made some smart choices. I was going to go to law school, and I got my degree, and I was going to go be a real adult. And then I got to New York, and I just was like, you know what; I've done hard things before. Let's give [acting] a go. And, by the grace of God, Martin and Bryan [Wynbrandt] and Steven [Lilien] found me. I never thought it would be so spectacular on such a spectacular show that's exactly what I always dreamed of doing. It’s a show that goes into people's homes, into people's families. It's about hope, and it's a dream come true. I can't pretend like it's anything else.”
“It’s great to be ‘Magic’” exclaimed Ernie Hudson, who plays Herbert “Magic” Williams, a returning character from the original series. In this series, he leads the top secret operation. “I saw that episode years ago with my kids. And I was fascinated by that character. I think a lot of the fans related to it. So to step into those shoes and answer a lot of questions of what's happened to him and all that stuff, it's very exciting.” Like Caitlin, Ernie brought his real-life military experience to the role, having joined in 1964 and serving in Vietnam.
“Deborah Pratt, one of the original creators and executive producers of the show who's with us every day on this version, she really says that the four tenets of Quantum Leap are hope, heart, humor, and history,” concluded Martin Gero. “Ben really inhabits the first three of those. He’s an incredibly hopeful character. He has a tremendous heart. The show is about empathy at its core, and he has a ton of that to give. And then, most importantly, because we want to make a really entertaining and fun show, is the humor. And the humor was a big part of the original Quantum Leap. It's a really important part of this one. And I think this entire cast has really taken that on, and trying to find a grounded way to bring an incredible amount of hope, heart, and humor to these episodes.”
Don’t miss the long-awaited return of Quantum Leap tonight at 10/9c on NBC. Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.