Is second time the charm? According to E! News, The CW has once again ordered a pilot for the “Charmed” reboot.
Set to be produced for the 2018-2019 season, the new version of “Charmed” will be a “fierce, funny, feminist reboot of the original series”. The storyline will centre on “three sisters in a college town who discover they are witches.” Here are 8 things we know about the upcoming reboot:
1. It will no longer centre around the Halliwell sisters
Move over Piper, Phoebe, and Paige (yes, you too Prue). The upcoming “Charmed” series will introduce a new set of bewitching sisters. Instead of the beloved Halliwells, writers Jessica O’Toole and Amy Rardin have reportedly settle on the Pruitt sisters.
Is “P” supposed to be an homage to the original?
2. The new “Charmed” won’t be a prequel
When the reboot was first announced in January last year, it was billed as a prequel-ish reimagining of the original show. It was rumoured to take place in a small New England town circa 1976. However, that plan has been scrapped and the plot will now take place in the present time.
3. Meet the Pruitt sisters
- Macy – A witty, intense science nerd, Macy – who is in her late 20s – has a Ph.D. in quantum physics. Macy has reason to believe that she is the sister of Mel and Madison. Her power is telekinesis.
- Mel Pruitt – A strong-willed feminist, she feels deeply and can be a bit controlling. Mel – who is in her mid 20s and a lesbian – is the sister of Madison. In the wake of a tragic accident, the grieving Mel becomes angry, defiantly unkempt, even violent, pushing away those who might help her. She has the ability to time freeze.
- Madison Pruitt – She’s Mel’s younger sister (18-ish) and is an athletic (pilates, cheerleading) college student pledging a sorority. Madison is the opposite of her feminist sister with a desire to fit in. Madison will be horrified to learn she is a witch. Her gift? Hearing other people’s thoughts.
4. The supporting characters
Aside from the main characters, producers are also casting for actors in supporting roles. They include:
- Harry, the trio’s “devilishly handsome” advisor (or “Whitelighter”)
- Macy’s documentary filmmaker-boyfriend Galvin
- Mel’s detective girlfriend Soo Jin
- Madison’s “sensitive longer” ex-beau Brian
5. The similarities between the former and new “Charmed”
Despite the ridiculous casting descriptions, it’s good know that they are keeping some of the sisters’ powers. Both Prue and Piper had the powers to move things with the mind and freeze things, respectively. The idea of Macy being excluded from the family early on is also a nod to Rose McGowan’s Paige Matthews when she came into the picture in season 4.
6. The 3 “M” witch sisters have already been used before
3 sister witches hmmm all names start with M’s hmmmmm nooooooo …… …. WAIT A MINUTE ….. @JennyMcCarthy SUE THEM pic.twitter.com/TM7ItjRDpD
— Holly Marie Combs Ryan (@H_Combs) February 7, 2018
The evil witches were Mabel, Mitzy and Margo. Look it up – it was in season 6. And may we add, things didn’t end well for them.
7. What does Shannen Doherty thinks about the reboot
Shannen Doherty played the eldest Halliwell sister, Prue, from season 1 until season 3. She was later replaced by Rose McGowan, who played the Halliwell’s half-sister Paige Matthews.
- On having a new generation of Charmed fans: “I’m intrigued by the idea that a new generation might be comforted, inspired like all you were. Charmed helped us all in some way.”
- On how the reboot will create more roles for women: “Exactly. More great roles for women. That’s a huge plus.”
- On marketing the series as a “feminist reboot”: “Their wording is terrible and a bit offensive. But, everyone makes mistakes. Perhaps with the backlash they will be more thoughtful in future.”
- On respecting the legacy of the show: “I love Charmed. I also want it to be respected. I’m simply choosing to be constructive about it because negativity has no place in my life.”
8. Holly Marie Combs slams reboot
Holly Marie Combs has also been pretty vocal about her thoughts on the “Charmed” reboot. Here are some excerpts from her tweets:
- On rebooting the show without the original cast: “Here’s the thing. Until you ask us to rewrite it like Brad Kern did weekly don’t even think of capitalising 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.”
I think I made it abundantly clear that I have a few issues with the reboot. The CW including a lesbian character isn’t one of them. But now that we’re on the subject. Calling it a “twist” in a marketing release is a mistake and part of a bigger problem than too many reboots. (1)
— Holly Marie Combs Ryan (@H_Combs) February 8, 2018
But y’know the 1st press release gave the reboot a feminist “twist”. So. Yeah. Let’s just all hope the actual script is filled with characters that are regarded and treated as equals in their effort to inspire a new generation. And that @TheCW fires their marketing dept soon.(2)
— Holly Marie Combs Ryan (@H_Combs) February 8, 2018
You had one job @TheCW 🧟♀️
— Holly Marie Combs Ryan (@H_Combs) February 7, 2018
BONUS:
9. Meet the new sisters
Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz, and Sarah Jeffery will play the new versions of the Charmed Ones. Get to know more about them and other cast members here.
What do y’all think? Can the Power of Three save this show from turning into a disaster? Let us know in the comments section below.
The original “Charmed” starring Alyssa Milano, in addition to Combs, Doherty, and McGowan, ran from 1998 until 2006.
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