These days, we have become accustomed to reboots and revivals becoming a normal occurrence every television season. There's seemingly always at least once announced to be in development or officially ordered. Well, we already have another one in the works, but it's not the first time this particular property has been attempted to be rebooted.
The classic 1960s sitcom Bewitched is the latest TV show to get the reboot treatment as Fox has started reteaming up with Sony Television on a new reimagining. While neither a pilot nor series has been ordered just yet, the proposed reboot would be an hourlong version of the beloved fantasy sitcom and its characters Samantha and Darrin.
Judalina Neira, who has worked on hit shows like The Boys and Daisy Jones and the Six, will write and executive produce the new series, as will Doug Robinson. Sony began developing the new version of Bewitched and shopped the series around this summer, where it landed at Fox as a producing partner, too. The partnership would follow suit with the likes of Doc and Universal Basic Guys.
Bewitched reboot series in the works at Fox
Because Bewitched has touched the hearts of so many, and continues to do so decades after its initial impact, there will likely be some strong reactions to the news that there's yet another attempt at a reboot in development. For the most part, audiences have reached an exhaustion point with reboots and believe it's best to leave classics untouched and come up with new ideas.
Just to play devil's advocate for Fox's reboot, it's at least doing something inventive with the source material and venturing away from sitcom territory. Perhaps the most surprising part about the latest reboot attempt is that it's intended to be an hourlong series rather than an a half hour comedy. It's still meant to be light-hearted as a comedy-drama, but it's much different from past reboot attempts.
In the past, Fox's competitors have tried their hand and bringing a new version of Bewitched to the small screen. ABC, CBS, and NBC have all developed potential reboots that never got off the ground or made it to air. Marc Lawrence, Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, and Kenya Barris were the creatives attached to the three failed reboots that each took the half-hour comedy route.
Of course, Bewitched hit the big screen in 2005 with the romantic comedy of the same name starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. The film earned negative reception and wasn't a major hit at the box office, which probably should have slowed Hollywood down on the property, but all of the TV reboots were in the works after the movie arrived to a mediocre response.
It's unclear if Fox will fast-track the Bewitched reboot or take their time, but now that they have a solid team in place, this seems like the most solid effort yet at bringing the '60s sitcom back. There's still a chance that the plans will follow through and it will be another misfire, but let's have some faith that this could be the one to get it right. Stay tuned for more updates on the reboot!