From 1998 to 2006, there was actually one name that may arguably be the equal to “Harry Potter” in terms of popular magic-themed franchises with the general public. That name is “Charmed”, a fantasy drama series that aired on the now-defunct The WB network. Telling the adventures and personal lives of three sisters who are the most powerful witches of their time, “Charmed” drew a cult following that helped build up viewership for the relatively new The WB, and win several nominations and awards. Now, twelve years after the series ended, The WB’s successor The CW is doing a reboot.
E! News Online reports that The CW is looking to renew past glories of its predecessor network by picking up reboots of some popular The WB shows. One of these is “Charmed”, a series about three sisters who awaken as witches and stand watch over the supernatural layer under the modern world. The reboot will star Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz and Sara Jeffery as the Vera sisters, a new and different take on the titular Charmed Ones, a move that has caught the ire not only of fanatics for the original series but certain members of the original cast themselves.
One of the most vocal critics to reviving “Charmed” in a new setting and characters detached from the first series was Holly Marie Combs, who portrayed original-generation Charmed One Piper Halliwell. Her January 2018 Twitter post belittled The CW as owning “Charmed” only as a label, while the franchise belongs to her cast-mates and the fans. Said fans were also dismissive of how The CW has emphasized the new “Charmed” as “fierce, funny, and feminist”, when the old one never needed to point that out. The CW Pedowitz has answered this hostility with an entreaty to “watch the reboot first”.
The CW’s renewal will focus on Macy, Mel and Maggie Vera, residents of the East Coast college community of Hilltowne, who are made aware of a hidden truth about themselves following the mysterious death of their mother. With their mastery of The Power of Three, they face the twofold task of vanquishing supernatural threats and “tearing down the patriarchy”. Two of the Vera sisters retain similar powers to their originals, the Halliwells, with Macy having the power to move and Mel the power to freeze. Maggie however has the power to mind-read. In addition, Mel is in a lesbian relationship.
“Charmed” is set to premiere on The CW this fall, paired with DC superhero series “Supergirl”. Other The WB shows seeing the light of day again include teen sci-fi drama “Roswell”. The CW-era supernatural series “The Vampire Diaries” is also set to get a spinoff.
Photo courtesy of variety.com
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