Raymond Lee

OF ‘QUANTUM LEAP’ ON NBC

“Quantum Leap” seemed like a diversity-minded show in its original incarnation. Given the times we’re in, do you find it even more so with the new version you’re starring in?

There’s a lot more complexity to life now, and we’re just exposed to a lot more information. I think it behooves us to make a show that can do right by everything that is out there. We do want to address a lot of things that people are

thinking about and that surround us.

We’re not trying to answer questions, but to address them. We have a very diverse writers’ room and a very diverse cast, and everybody matters. And we want to make sure

we’re making a show where everybody feels that.

Original “Quantum Leap” executive producers Donald Bellisario and Deborah Pratt also get credits on the revival. Do you hear from them much?

Don has been at all of our table reads over Zoom, and Deborah is very involved. She’s on the set pretty much every day, and if she’s not, she’ll text us and just make sure we feel supported. It’s really nice to have her presence, since we want to honor the original as much as we can, but we

are creating a new show.

You’re also in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick.” How is it for you to be a part of such a blockbuster?

When I knew that project was coming around, I did everything I could to be a part of it. It didn’t matter how big or small my role was.

The first “Top Gun” had a big impact on me and what I chose to do with my life, and Tom Cruise is obviously Tom Cruise ... so any opportunity to see him work up-close, I would have paid money to

be a part of that. The fact that they paid me money for it was crazy! I’m just so glad it worked out.