Continuing the trend of making everything that was once old new again, in a relentless loop of creative recycling; it looks like a Charmed reboot is on the way.
The US network, CW is ordering a one-hour pilot script, in a series being plugged as a “reimagining” of the 90s cult show. But there’s a catch. The comeback with feature an all-new cast, so sozzi for those still resting their hopes on a reunion between the OG squad: Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs and Rose McGowan.
Instead the potential series will be a retro take, revolving around three witches in a small New England town in 1976. By calling the series a reimagining, the producers are keeping it vague AF. We don’t know whether the show will relate at all to the characters of Pru, Pheobe, Piper, and Paige. Or whether the show is a prequel to the original Charmed series.
But with the show’s inclination for time-travel, there are plenty of opportunities for the old skool power of three to re-enter the series. Plus the series’ stars Milano and Combs have tweeted their support of the comeback.
#Charmed fans! There are no fans like you. You're the best of the best.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 5, 2017
We wish them well.
— Holly Marie Combs (@H_Combs) January 5, 2017
What we do know is that the new version will be from the combined efforts of Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Urman, along with Jessica O’Toole and Amy Rardin. If the show gets the green-light, it will be directed and executive produced by Brad Silberling of TV series Reign.
With a team of mostly females at the forefront, the reboot will have a feminist flavour. According to E!, the show unites three witches who come together to “fight the forces of evil (and fight for women’s rights) in a New England town in 1976″.
One exciting part, from taking a peek at the unofficial descriptions of the three witches, there is curiously a witch named Paige. This can’t be a coincidence and could possibly relate to McGowan’s earlier character.
The actress has said in a 2015 interview, when asked if she’d be interested in a reunion: “Witchcraft is kind of awesome and I had the best powers, so I hope so. Sure”. It’s awwn.
However, the description doesn’t bare much resemblance to McGowan’s Paige. As it reads, “she[Paige] can’t wait to serve to the husband she has yet to marry. Paige’s main goal in life is to marry a rich doctor and be a wife and mother”. So what significance the name choice has remains to be seen.
Another feature of the descriptions is that one of the witches, Tina, will be African-American. This is an encouraging step towards inclusion, as the 90s show was known for it’s pretty darn white cast – with one exception in Dorian Gregory.
It was rumoured that the CBS was working on a reboot back in 2013, after Charmed was named the second most binge-watched show on Netflix. Hopefully this time around, something eventuates for real.
