Quantum Leap‘s Season 2 finale set the stage for what could’ve been an exciting third season but, unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. NBC canceled the revival, and based on an exec’s thoughts on it going to Peacock, it doesn’t seem like we’ll ever see more of the show’s main heroes. Fortunately, we do know what the season would’ve been about, thanks to a key member of the creative team.
For those needing a refresher and don’t have time to rewatch the Season 2 finale, I’ll quickly bring you up to speed. Addison ultimately decided to enter the Quantum Accelerator to swap places with Ben after it was believed that a new formula could allow him to return to the present at the cost of switching places. The formula seemingly failed, and Addison and Ben arrived at the next leap together. During an interview with TV Insider, co-showrunner Dean Georgaris hinted at how the series would’ve explored that premise:
What I would tease about a third season is exploring a two-person leap, but I don’t think it’s always going to go the way they expect. I don’t necessarily think just because they’re together in one leap means they’re automatically together in the next leap. I think we’re all excited about, who becomes the hologram and how does the hologram work and what other discussions does having a swap code if it works or if they can get it to work again bring up for the people in Quantum Leap?
The show was all about shaking up typical narratives seen in science fiction, and it seemed like Season 3 would’ve featured more of that. Showrunners Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris expressed excitement over the creative place the series was in at the end of Season 2. So it’s a bummer that we won’t see this come to be. While speaking with CinemaBlend, cast member Caitlin Bassett even seemed optimistic the chances of NBC handing the revival a renewal, but it seems any celebration of that was premature.
It’s a real shame, because there were hints from Dean Georgaris that Hannah Carson’s formula might’ve worked after all to a point and that the companions could flip-flop between who was in the loops and not. The EP also said during his interview:
If we really start to explore that you can go in and out of a leap, does Ian want to go? Does Jenn want to go? Is there an occasion where Magic would want to go? Or can they not get the code to work again? In which case you’ve got now two people you’re trying to bring back—or are you trying to bring them back?
It’s an interesting premise because, theoretically, if people could be replaced in leaps, the program could rotate people in and out of leaps and prevent anyone from being trapped there for too long. Now, this isn’t to say that was 100% what the producers had planned, since Dean Georgaris was upfront about the fact that planning for Season 3 was still in the early stages. So, all in all, there’s no telling how much of this would’ve stuck or not.
This was one of many cancellations to be miffed about.
Quantum Leap‘s cancellation robbed viewers of a quality network science fiction series, and such a productions seems to be in increasingly short supply these days. The show never had the opportunity to coax original series star Scott Bakula to return, but did name-drop his character, Sam Beckett, from time to time. What is known is that the series never had plans of recasting Sam, so if Bakula hadn’t agreed to return, we would’ve never seen the franchise’s OG protagonist at all.
As of writing, it doesn’t appear as though QL has any shot of being saved by a network or streamer. If there’s any upside, the series is still available to stream with a Peacock subscription, and the first two seasons are remain very entertaining. The only downside is that the show is saddled with an unsatisfying ending, and the three Leapers are now stuck with no hope of returning to their time.
I would love to see Quantum Leap receive a greenlight for Season 3 at some point, especially now that we have an indication as to where the story was heading. But, quite frankly, it feels impossible that a network will swoop in and save it. Stranger things have happened in the past, however, so maybe now is the time to drum up the fan campaigns and get people on social media talking!