Jay Hernandez lands lead role in 'Magnum, P.I.' reboot pilot

Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Jay Hernandez has been cast in the title role in CBS's upcoming reboot pilot based on 1980s crime drama, Magnum, P.I.

Hernandez, best known for starring in 2016's Suicide Squad as El Diablo, will be taking on the iconic private eye role first held by Tom Selleck, who currently stars on the CBS police drama Blue Bloods. The original Magnum, P.I. aired from 1980 to 1988.

The pilot will feature the actor becoming a private investigator upon returning home from Afghanistan where he served as a decorated Navy SEAL, Variety reported.

The show will once again take place in Hawaii, but will feature a female version of sidekick Higgins, a character first portrayed by John Hillerman.

Peter Lenkov, the writer and producer of CBS reboots Hawaii Five-O and MacGuyver, is set to write and executive produce the new Magnum, P.I.

Hernandez has also starred in Netflix's Bright, the Bad Moms film series and in Scandal, Nashville and The Expanse on television.