MacGyver has already kicked off to a strong start on CBS. The new Friday night series absolutely dominated during its first episode, and although it saw a drop in Episode 2, the show is still doing well and is a good fit for new and old fans alike. Although it's clear the new show can stand on its own two feet, there are still plenty of fans that would be happy to see the series nod at the original MagGyver series. The notion is not all that far-fetched, either. Recently, showrunner Peter M. Lenkov revealed there is hope that we could see Richard Dean Anderson in the future:
He's being very kind to us because he's allowing us to step out of the gate on our own. Hopefully, after we get up and running, he'll come and join us. That's what I'm hoping. We have a role, and it's a great role. It's recurring and I'm hoping he says yes to it.
So, in short, the show isn't planning to totally forget about its past history. Although the new MacGyver is played by relatively young actor Lucas Till, CBS' new series pays some homage to the eighties series of the same name. Although the new Angus MacGyver does frequently use a lot of new types of technology, he also occasionally resorts to the sorts of tactics that Richard Dean Anderson's character would have used during the day. The pilot even brings in the character's signature paper clip, so there are nods to Anderson.
Unfortunately, Peter M. Lenkov didn't explain to EW exactly what the role in question could be, so we have no idea what Richard Dean Anderson could potentially do on the show should he want to be a part of the CBS drama. The cool thing about it is that it doesn't sound like a one-off cameo. Recurring is really promising, but that might also mean that it could be harder to sign on Richard Dean Anderson for the long haul.
Richard Dean Anderson has been out of the acting game for the past several years. For a long time, the man could be found over on Syfy, where he starred in Stargate: SG1 for most of the show's run. He subsequently also appeared on other shows in the Stargate franchise. However, following a guesting stint on Don't Trust the B in 2013, He's reportedly cut back on acting a few years ago to spend time with his daughter, but it's not like he's officially retired or anything, and maybe a major network TV series would be enough to lure him back to the small screen.
For now, expect MacGyver to nod at the original series in different ways. New episodes of the new CBS drama air on Friday nights at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods. To find out what else has yet to premiere, you can check out our fall TV premiere schedule.
