Zachary Knighton Joins Magnum P.I. Reboot in a Lead Role

CBS’ Magnum P.I. reboot has cast a new actor in one of its lead roles. Deadline reports that Zachary Knighton (Happy Endings) is set to play Rick Wright, originally played by Larry Manetti, in the rebooted series opposite Jay Hernandez (Thomas Magnum) and Perdita Weeks (Juliet Higgins).

The new take on the series follows Thomas Magnum (Hernandez), a decorated ex-Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. With help from fellow vets Theodore “TC” Calvin and Orville “Rick” Wright (Knighton), as well as that of disavowed former MI-6 agent Juliet Higgins (Weeks), Magnum takes on the cases no one else will, helping those who have no one else to turn to.

Knighton’s character is described as a former door gunner with the Marines, who now runs Oahu’s coolest nightclub. According to Magnum, Rick is well connected — if you want something on the island, Rick is the man to see. He is one of Magnum’s friends who were all POWs in Iraq together.