Charmed CW Reboot Ordered to Pilot: Attempt Number 3

[Ruth Marie]

‘Charmed’ “Feminist” Reboot From Jennie Snyder Urman 

For a second consecutive year, the CW has handed out its first two pilot orders to a high-profile reboot of a long-running series from CBS TV Studios and a project from one of Warner Bros. TV’s top producers. Last season, the nods went to Dynasty and the Greg Berlanti-produced Searchers. This time the network has greenlighted a new Charmed, from Jane the Virgin creator/showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman and the CW dramedy’s executive producer Ben Silverman, writers/co-executive producers Jessica O’Toole and Amy Rardin, and the pilot’s director Brad Silberling; as well as Dead Inside, an hourlong drama from writer Katie Lovejoy and producer Bill Lawrence.

Rex/Shutterstock

The CW originally tried to bring back Charmed, one of the signature dramas of predecessor the WB, last season, when it ordered a reimagining of the original Aaron Spelling series from the same creative auspices. It was to be set in 1976 and feature a new trio of witches. The project was rolled over to this development season largely because Urman was too busy with Jane the Virgin and had no time to work on Charmed.

The new Charmed script, penned by O’Toole and Rardin based on a story by Urman, is set in present time. Per the CW, whose brass greenlighted the pilot shortly after getting the script, “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.”

Urman, O’Toole and Rardin executive produce with Silverman and Silberling who is set to direct.


The original series, created by Constance M. Burge and produced by Spelling TV and CBS TV Studios predecessor Paramount TV, aired on the WB for eight seasons. The high-rated show about a trio of sisters who are good witches underwent a casting change, with original cast member Shannen Doherty replaced after Season 3 by Rose McGowan, who joined co-leads Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano.


The CW sibling network CBS previously took a stab at a Charmed reboot during the 2013-14 development season. The project, from a different writing-producing team, did not go beyond the script stage.

deadline.com/2018/01/charmed-feminist-reboot-jennie-snyder-urman-dead-inside-bill-lawrence-the-cw-pilot-orders-1202269561/



Holly's typical response.

[Ruth Marie]

So it's going to be a comedy like Sabrina or Bewitched, especially when they say this fierce, funny, feminist reboot. And it appears they are younger than the original, that means don't expect any of them to find husbands and children anytime soon.

LOL Sabrina is going to be a darker reboot and Charmed a lighter series. Talk about both shows switching tones in their reboots. 

Don't count on this happening. CW has a backdoor pilot for Wayward Sisters, a Supernatural spin-off focused on female leads. CW might order that to series over Charmed.

[peytonhalliwell]

I wish I lived in Hollywood so I could audition for this, this would be the version I'd watch lol.

[West]

If this reboot is going to be much less dark and funnier like a comedy. Maybe I might enjoy it. I've never watched Jane the Virgin, so I'm not sure about the writing style they do.

But the show is set in a college town. Which implies all three sisters are in college perhaps. It doesn't mention Prue, Piper or Phoebe or Paige. Makes me think this is a new show just using the Charmed name. With three sisters living in a college town, who discover they are witches and fight demons.

Most of the press releases are calling it a “Funny, Feminist” Charmed Reboot. So this is definitely a comedy series tone. At least I know what the show is about from the beginning with the tone.

EDIT: I checked on Jennie Snyder Urman's previous work. She has worked on Gilmore Girls, Lipstick Jungle and Hope & Faith. So comedy is her talents. 

[Ruth Marie]

So they are attempting to use the Charmed name again with a new show not related to Charmed, only set in present day.

They are desperate for a Charmed reboot it seems. I sadly think we are never getting anything with the original cast. That much is sadly certain. A Charmed reunion would have happened by now or this year. Since plenty of 90s hit have had reunions already.

I do feel sad because this reboot is getting attention when us loyal fans of the original want to enjoy our anniversary year. Especially if it premieres around the 20th anniversary in October. That this will get press and not enough on the original series 20th. I feel a little disappointed in a way.

But I'll need more information before I judge a show based on just one press release.

[Ruth Marie]

I love Holly. Here's a collection of her twitter reactions.

[Esmeralda]

It sounds like women's lib and man-hating that would make Grams look like a man-lover rather than girl power like Charmed. NO, THANKS!!!!!

I'll bet it will include finding out that the sisters were sexually abused as children and getting revenge to try to cash in on all of the current allocations against men.

Repeat: NO, THANKS!!!

[West]

The more I thought about it all day, the more I just don't like it at all now. 

What Is insulting after reading more articles about it, is they call it a feminist reboot show as if the original series wasn't. I see many people online are not happy about this.

So Es has a point it might cash in on the current events in todays society with women.

I might just enjoy my boxsets and relive my fond memories of the original longer. If this series comes out right when Charmed hits 20, I'd rather enjoy rewatching the first episode of the original not the reboot. 

[sky1]

Jan 26, 2018 7:22:35 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

It sounds like women's lib and man-hating that would make Grams look like a man-lover rather than girl power like Charmed. NO, THANKS!!!!!

I'll bet it will include finding out that the sisters were sexually abused as children and getting revenge to try to cash in on all of the current allocations against men.

Repeat: NO, THANKS!!!

This! Just NO! Add CW romance/drama/angst since the girls are in college. And just NO!

[West]

Jan 26, 2018 14:58:07 GMT -5 sky1 said:

Jan 26, 2018 7:22:35 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

It sounds like women's lib and man-hating that would make Grams look like a man-lover rather than girl power like Charmed. NO, THANKS!!!!!

I'll bet it will include finding out that the sisters were sexually abused as children and getting revenge to try to cash in on all of the current allocations against men.

Repeat: NO, THANKS!!!

This! Just NO! Add CW romance/drama/angst since the girls are in college. And just NO!

After giving up on the DC shows on CW for the exact same reason. You are so right. 

[lordumbrex]

Yeah, I'll give this a hard pass.

[Granny Charmed]

Jan 26, 2018 14:58:07 GMT -5 sky1 said:

Jan 26, 2018 7:22:35 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

It sounds like women's lib and man-hating that would make Grams look like a man-lover rather than girl power like Charmed. NO, THANKS!!!!!

I'll bet it will include finding out that the sisters were sexually abused as children and getting revenge to try to cash in on all of the current allocations against men.

Repeat: NO, THANKS!!!

This! Just NO! Add CW romance/drama/angst since the girls are in college. And just NO!

A big NO WAY from me dears.

I'm with Holly on this one. Where she says you will not fool the fans with a title/stamp and getting us to watch. This might appeal to the younger crowd and the new generation of teens who never saw the original, but you *can't* fool us longtime fans. NO THANKS!!!

[Ruth Marie]

Jan 26, 2018 17:03:01 GMT -5 Granny Charmed said:

Jan 26, 2018 14:58:07 GMT -5 sky1 said:

This! Just NO! Add CW romance/drama/angst since the girls are in college. And just NO!

A big NO WAY from me dears.

I'm with Holly on this one. Where she says you will not fool the fans with a title/stamp and getting us to watch. This might appeal to the younger crowd and the new generation of teens who never saw the original, but you *can't* fool us longtime fans. NO THANKS!!!

LOL well, that already must be working. Typical! I happened to hear two young girls talking about this reboot, and being so excited for new female role models on my train today. But if CW is any indication, it won't be anything more than CW romance/drama/angst and cash in on all the current allocations against men as others have said above. 

Let Charmed rest in peace, and let longtime fans have our year of reflecting on the original series turning 20. 

[Chris]

Carina definitely messed with the wrong woman! Holly had more to say about this topic within the past two - three hours.

Attachments:

[Charmed by Piper]

Jan 26, 2018 6:46:00 GMT -5 Ruth Marie said:

I love Holly. Here's a collection of her twitter reactions.

That's our Holly. Don't mess with her. She owned her!

I'll give this reboot a Pass! Nope, not interested. 

[gzv969]

This would have been the best time to have just revived the show with holly, Alyssa, rose, Shannon. Especially with how most of them have been front and center in the news lately

[farerb]

Well, the original Charmed wasn't feminist. Yeah it had 3 female leads, but their characters were all about getting dates and guys. It was extremely sexist as well.

In addition, I don't get why Holly is so worked up about it. Reboots and remakes happen all the time. You don't see other actors bitching about remakes to old productions hey did. It just seems to me like she is a really hateful person if you add this to her mean comments about Alyssa and abandoning Shannen because of her cancer.

[Ruth Marie]

Jan 27, 2018 0:29:11 GMT -5 gzv969 said:

This would have been the best time to have just revived the show with holly, Alyssa, rose, Shannon. Especially with how most of them have been front and center in the news lately

Most definitely it would be the best year to do it for Charmed turning 20 and the actresses are very involved in the media lately Rose and Alyssa with political stuff and Shannen with her cancer stuff. So it's a no brainer for exposure.

But unfortunately CBS/CW are not interested and dead set on setting up a reboot for years now. Which is disappointing.

[Elle Em]

I'd definitely rather no one mess with a reboot or revival or whatever. No one who would be in charge of such a thing would be doing it for any reason that would appeal to the true fans of the show. They see Charmed as a show about three women in little clothing, surrounded by hot men all the time, and the ability to cash in on current events surrounding some of the leads.

They don't see it for the emotional appeal it held for the biggest fans, or for ideas of family portrayed through their bond as sisters. Charmed at its core was about sisterhood and the personal journeys of the girls, together and as individuals. Some bigshots in charge of a network aren't going to come close to doing it justice.

[Ruth Marie]

Jan 27, 2018 7:59:03 GMT -5 Elle Em said:

I'd definitely rather no one mess with a reboot or revival or whatever. No one who would be in charge of such a thing would be doing it for any reason that would appeal to the true fans of the show. They see Charmed as a show about three women in little clothing, surrounded by hot men all the time, and the ability to cash in on current events surrounding some of the leads.

They don't see it for the emotional appeal it held for the biggest fans, or for ideas of family portrayed through their bond as sisters. Charmed at its core was about sisterhood and the personal journeys of the girls, together and as individuals. Some bigshots in charge of a network aren't going to come close to doing it justice.

Charmed is better off resting in peace and not brought back at all. Maybe it's for the best it stays in the late 90s and 00s. Let us true fans enjoy our show.

I don't think they can do it justice. Because it has to appeal and be current to the events in todays society your right. CW isn't capable of doing it justice anyway. Maybe nobody can.

Leave it alone. I hope it doesn't get picked up and they just give the Supernatural female lead spin off a order instead, if they want a female focused show on CW or something.