A few days ago, it was reported that Jane the Virgin’s Jennie Snyder Urman is executive producing an update on the WB Network hit series Charmed that is being developed with other Jane veterans. The new incarnation of the series would supposedly take place in 1976, and has left people wondering what — if any — connection the new show would have to the original show, which starred Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, and Rose McGowan.
“At this point, it is a self‑contained, self-sustaining show,” CW President Mark Pedowitz said this morning at his Executive Session of the Television Critics Association press tour. “We are waiting to see the pilot script from Jennie and our team. When Jennie comes in and says, ‘I think I have a take of how to do Charmed,‘ you’ve got to listen, so we are very interested in hearing it. In terms of whether the characters or the actresses will come into the series, we’ll see what happens as soon as the series goes on. That’s to be determined. I leave that to Jennie and what she wants to do,” he deferred.
“At this time, there is the ‘Power of Three’ element in there, but at this time, it’s a very standalone, separate show,” he confirmed.
Why so many reboots in this day and age?
“I think people like to see things that they love,” Pedowitz answered. “They like to see how they are re‑imagined, but there are also going to be harsh critics. If the re‑imagining isn’t meeting their criteria, they are going to turn away from it pretty quickly and be pretty brutal, as we have all seen what social media can do when someone wants to be brutal,” he continued. The CW is also currently looking to redevelop Dynasty and The Lost Boys, but the success of such projects depends on the success of the delivery and whether or not it fills an audience need.
One journalist at the panel asked if there’s anything in The CW’s library that might need to reboot, and jokingly asked about a Cult reboot, to which Pedowitz played along. “I think probably not, but hopefully, we’ll do Famous in 12 afterwards,” the executive answered, tongue in cheek.
A new Charmed is in contention for a possible spot on The CW’s 2017-18 schedule which will be announced in May.
