After years of being in development, the CW is finally moving ahead with its plans to reboot Charmed, having ordered a pilot from a pair of Jane the Virgin writers.
RELATED: Charmed Reboot In Development at the CW
It was reported on Friday that the CW had officially given a pilot order to a Charmed reboot, a project that has been in development at the network since last January. Interestingly enough, the new series, which has only secured a pilot order thus far, has undergone some massive changes in the past year. Originally imagined as a prequel to the original series, the reboot is now set in the present day and will feature three sisters in a college town who go on to learn they’re witches. While little is known regarding the project, the official description released by the CW promises a “fierce, funny, feminist” take on the property.
“This fierce, funny, feminist reboot of the original series centers on three sisters in a college town who discover they are witches. Between vanquishing supernatural demons, tearing down the patriarchy, and maintaining familial bonds, a witch’s work is never done.”
With the new series moving from the 1970s to the present day, this would obviously allow for the reboot to bring back the original Charmed witches — Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs and Rose McGowan — should the series decide to go that route. As it stands, however, that may not be entirely possible. Original series star Holly Marie Combs has been very vocal in the past regarding her feelings on a Charmed reboot, and unsurprisingly, took to Twitter to vent her frustrations with the new project.
Here’s the thing. Until you ask us to rewrite it like Brad Kern did weekly don’t even think of capitalizing on our hard work. Charmed belongs to the 4 of us, our vast amount of writers, crews and predominantly the fans. FYI you will not fool them by owning a title/stamp. So bye.
— Holly Marie Combs (@H_Combs) January 26, 2018
And another thing. Reboots or remakes, as we used to call them, usually have storylines so similar to the original that they are legally required to use the same title and buy the rights to that title. If it’s not similar than it’s just another show. A new show with a new title.
— Holly Marie Combs (@H_Combs) January 26, 2018
This isn’t the first time one of the actresses has spoken out regarding a possible reboot of the series. Prior to the CW planning to revive the show, a reboot had been in development at CBS. That project failed to gain support from Milano and McGowan and never moved past the development stage.
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The original series, which aired from 1998 to 2006 on The WB, centered on three sisters, the powerful witches known as the Charmed Ones, who lived together and protected the innocent.
The pilot for the CW’s Charmed reboot will be written by Jane the Virgin writers Jessica O’Toole and Amy Rardin.
(via Entertainment Weekly)