Bewitched Reboot: Fox Conjures Hour-Long Drama With The Boys EP

Get ready for some modern magic! Fox is officially bringing back the beloved classic sitcom Bewitched with a fresh, hour-long dramatic reimagining.

TL;DR

• Fox is developing an hour-long dramatic reimagining of the classic Bewitched series.
• Judalina Neira (known for The Boys) is writing and executive producing, alongside veteran producer Doug Robinson and Sony Pictures Television.
• The new show will delve into Samantha and Darrin's love story, focusing on cultural clashes and bridging their wildly different worlds.

A Brand New Spell for Samantha and Darrin's Enduring Love Story

That's right, folks! It's time to twitch your nose because the iconic '60s sitcom Bewitched is getting a sparkling new lease on life. Fox has put into development an hour-long reimagining of the series, promising a "heartfelt" take on the witch-meets-human romance we all know and love. This isn't your grandma's half-hour comedy – this new version is looking to cast a dramatic spell, much like Peacock's successful dramatic twist on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, titled Bel-Air.

The core premise remains wonderfully enchanting: a lovestruck duo, Samantha (a witch) and Darrin (a human), fall head over heels for each other. But their path to happily ever after won't be easy. The new series will dive deep into the emotional and cultural divide between their two worlds. They'll have to navigate disapproving parents, walk a tightrope of cultural clashes, and bridge the gaps between their families and their vastly different lives. It sounds like a truly captivating update that will allow for much more exploration than the original's comedic format ever could.

The Visionaries Behind This Magical Modern Makeover

This exciting new chapter for Bewitched comes from some seriously talented hands. Judalina Neira is set to write and executive produce the series. If her name sounds familiar, it's because she's been making waves in some of TV's biggest hits, including serving as an executive producer on Prime Video's superhero sensation The Boys (which is heading into its fifth and final season) and its spinoff Gen V. Her impressive resume also includes credits on The Horror of Dolores Roach, Daisy Jones & the Six (earning an Emmy nomination as a supervising producer), The Morning Show, and even The CW's The Flash.

Neira signed her first overall deal with Sony Pictures Television in early 2024, and this Bewitched reboot was one of the first projects she tackled with her Famous Last Words Productions. Teaming up with her is veteran executive producer Doug Robinson, Sony TV's longest-tenured producer, with a remarkable 23 years at the studio. Robinson brings a wealth of experience from shows like The Goldbergs and For Life. Sony Pictures Television is producing the series, with Fox Entertainment co-producing, continuing a strong partnership that also includes shows like Doc and Accused.

With Neira's proven ability to craft complex, feminist, and morally layered worlds, and Robinson's extensive background in television production, this team seems perfectly poised to breathe fresh, contemporary life into Samantha's story. They both have experience spanning comedy and drama, making them ideal for this "dramedy" approach.

Looking Back at the Original Charm and Enduring Legacy of Bewitched

For those who remember the original, Bewitched first graced our screens in 1964 on ABC, enchanting audiences for eight seasons until 1972. Created by Sol Saks and executive produced by Harry Ackerman, it quickly became one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history. The incomparable Elizabeth Montgomery starred as Samantha Stephens, a beautiful witch who falls in love with and marries mortal advertising executive Darrin Stephens (initially played by Dick York, later by Dick Sargent).

The show's central comedic tension revolved around Samantha's attempts to live a "normal" suburban life without magic, often to the frustration of her husband. However, her quirky, magical relatives – especially her disapproving mother Endora (Agnes Moorehead) – frequently popped in, stirring up trouble and forcing Samantha to use her powers (or try to hide them). The series masterfully blended comedy, romance, and supernatural hijinks, making it a cultural phenomenon that has influenced countless shows since, including a noticeable homage in Marvel's WandaVision.

From Silver Screen to Small Screen: Previous Attempts to Revive the Witchy Magic

This isn't the first time Hollywood has tried to bring Bewitched back. The series has a history of reboots and spinoffs, highlighting its enduring appeal but also the challenge of updating such a classic. A short-lived spinoff titled Tabitha, following Samantha's grown-up daughter (played by Lisa Hartman), aired on ABC in 1977.

Perhaps the most memorable previous attempt was the 2005 feature film, starring Nicole Kidman as Isabel Bigelow (a real witch trying to live a normal life and accidentally cast as Samantha in a TV reboot) and Will Ferrell as Jack Wyatt (a failing actor playing Darrin). Directed by Nora Ephron, this meta-comedy took an unusual spin on the original premise. While it featured a star-studded cast including Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, and Kristin Chenoweth, it received mixed reviews.

"When the scene's over, do you remember what you came and said to us? You came over to us because when the scene started and when [director Nora Ephron] said, 'Action,' we saw why Nicole Kidman was a movie star because the moment she called 'Action,' she flipped some switch. She became the most alluring and beautiful woman... You walked over and you went, 'I couldn't remember any of my lines. I couldn't get out of her eyes. What the just [expletive] just happened out there?'"

— Will Ferrell, reflecting on Nicole Kidman's performance in the 2005 Bewitched movie

Beyond the movie, there have been other failed attempts by networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS over the past decade and a half to develop a Bewitched reboot, all of which envisioned it as a half-hour comedy. Interestingly, there's also a separate live-action family series focusing on a pre-teen Tabitha, still in active development from Sony Pictures Television Kids and Flying Bark Productions. This highlights that the appetite for more magical stories in this universe is definitely still there!

Addressing Outdated Themes and Shaping a Modern Magical Compromise

One of the criticisms leveled at the original Bewitched in hindsight is its sometimes outdated and arguably sexist themes. The core conflict often centered on Darrin constantly pressuring Samantha to give up her powers and live a "normal" life to make him comfortable. She loved him, but his insistence on her dulling her shine became a running theme, prompting questions about autonomy and identity that resonate differently today.

The new Fox series seems ready to tackle this head-on. By shifting the tone towards compromise and focusing on "bridging the divide" between their worlds, the reimagining moves beyond Samantha simply abandoning her identity. This approach allows for a much more nuanced and empowering exploration of love, difference, and identity in the 21st century. Instead of one partner giving up everything, the story will center on how Samantha and Darrin genuinely integrate their two lives, navigating their unique challenges together. This setup promises a more equitable and compelling dynamic for modern audiences, transforming the original's irony into a contemporary tale of acceptance and mutual growth.

The Future is Brewing: What to Expect from This Enchanting Revival

While the project is officially "in development," the excitement is already palpable. Fans of the original, as well as new audiences eager for a fresh take on a classic, will be eagerly watching to see if this hour-long dramatic vision goes to a full series order. With Judalina Neira at the helm, known for crafting strong, complex female characters, there's a real chance for this Bewitched to not only honor its legacy but also redefine it for a new generation.

The challenge lies in capturing the whimsical charm of the original while infusing it with contemporary depth and relevance. Given the talent involved and the stated "heartfelt" and compromise-focused approach, this new Bewitched has the potential to be a truly magical addition to television. We'll be keeping our wands (and eyes) crossed for more updates!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Bewitched Reboot What is the new Bewitched series about? The new Bewitched is an hour-long dramatic reimagining that follows the love story of Samantha (a witch) and Darrin (a human) as they navigate cultural clashes, disapproving parents, and strive to bridge the divides between their two wildly different worlds. Who is creating this Bewitched reboot? Judalina Neira, known for her work on The Boys and Daisy Jones & the Six, is writing and executive producing. Doug Robinson (The Goldbergs) is also an executive producer. Sony Pictures Television and Fox Entertainment are co-producing. How is this new Bewitched different from the original? The original was a half-hour comedy. This new version is an hour-long drama (or "dramedy") with a "heartfelt" tone, focusing on the emotional and cultural challenges of Samantha and Darrin's relationship, emphasizing compromise rather than Samantha having to hide her identity. Has Bewitched been rebooted before? Yes, there was a 2005 meta-comedy feature film starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. There was also a short-lived TV spinoff called Tabitha in 1977, and another pre-teen Tabitha series is currently in development. Sources

• CBR.com
• Parade.com
• Deadline.com
• Collider.com
• TVInsider.com
• Miscelana.com
• DarkHorizons.com
• ScreenRant.com