The Charmed Ones are back. Kind of. The CW has confirmed that a new version of “Charmed” is in the works, Entertainment Weekly reports. But fans of the original series may be disappointed to learn that the reboot won’t be picking up where the supernatural show left off. The “reimagining” isn’t set in contemporary times; it takes place in 1976. As such, it’s unlikely we will see much — if any — of the characters to lead the original series, which ran from 1998 to 2006 on The WB.
Set in San Francisco, the original series centers on three sisters (Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs) who also happen to be witches. The trio use their magical abilities to fight evil supernatural forces. Rose McGowan was added to the cast in Season 4 after Doherty left the series.
Since the new project is still at the script stage, there are no details about casting. But as Entertainment Weekly points out, “‘Charmed’ was creatively an anything-goes type of show (time travel was on the table, for instance), so there’s probably all sorts of ways previous cast members could make appearances, either as their original characters or new ones.” So if you’re dying to be reunited with the Halliwell (and Matthews) sisters, don’t lose all hope. (Combs did, however, tweet “We wish them well” following news of the reboot, suggesting that she and the rest of the original cast aren’t directly involved with the reimagining.)
The new version hails from “Jane the Virgin” creator Jennie Snyder Urman, and is being penned by Snyder Urman, Jessica O’Toole, and Amy Rardin.
The original cast and characters’ absence will be felt, but the reimagining presents lots of interesting avenues to explore, particularly if the series is still set in San Francisco. During the 1970s, the city was known worldwide for its radical politics and celebrated as a hub for LGBTQ folks. “Charmed” may be getting a more inclusive makeover, especially with Snyder Urman steering the way: “Jane the Virgin’s” cast is composed primarily of women of color, and the series has an amazing track record when it comes to hiring women directors. “I would say we’re probably three-fourths women directors versus male directors because we have a very female-driven show, and I would say the female gaze is important on our show,” Snyder Urman has said. “You kind of surround yourself with people that wouldn’t look negatively on the fact that you’re a woman, and who understand a show with a female point of view.” With Snyder on board, we’re betting the new “Charmed” will be must-see TV.
