"Bewitched" Remake Eyed by Networks
by Nellie Andreeva
October 15, 2014


On the 50th anniversary of its debut, classic TV sitcom "Bewitched" is eyeing a comeback. I’ve learned that Sony Pictures TV is shopping a new version of the supernatural comedy, which ran on ABC from 1964 to 1972.

I hear there is already interest from multiple networks in the modern-day take, which is being penned by The Vow writers Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein.



The project hails from Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick’s Red Wagon Entertainment, which produced Columbia Pictures’ 2005 Bewitched film starring Nicol Kidman and Will Ferrell, and also teamed with Sony TV on a potential series remake at CBS in 2011.

Also producing the new version is Management 360,which reps Kohn and Silverstein, along with CAA.



Created by Sol Saks and executive produced by Harry Ackerman, "Bewitched" starred Elizabeth Montgomery as a witch married to an ordinary mortal man and chronicles the way her powers and her wicked family get in the way of her efforts to live a normal, magic-free life as a typical suburban housewife.







While the movie remake didn’t fare well, the original series remains popular. It has enjoyed a long after-life in syndication and around the world with local versions mounted in Russia, India, Argentina and Japan.

The classic sitcom has also been embraced by new technologies, with seasons available on the Hulu streaming service.



"Bewitched" is part of the wave of classic series and movies that are getting remakes this development season as the networks are relying heavily on well-known properties, in part because of the dearth of available seasoned creators, many of whom are tied to series.

http://deadline.com/2014/10/bewitched-remake-series-sony-851716/

They need to have Erin Murphy play Samantha.

"Bewitched" Update: NBC Pilot Will Follow Samantha's Granddaughter
by Andy Swift
October 22, 2014


Exactly one week after news broke that a "Bewitched" remake was in the works from Sony Pictures TV, NBC has given the comedy a pilot production commitment, our sister site Deadline reports.

But rather than retell Samantha Stephens’ story, NBC’s new pilot — penned by The Vow‘s Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein — will focus on Daphne, Samantha’s granddaughter, a single twenty-something who discovers her quest for true love can’t be solved with magic (though that won’t stop her from trying).

Lisa Hartman played Samantha’s grown daughter Tabitha (aka Daphne’s mother) in Bewitched‘s 1977 spin-off series "Tabitha".

http://tvline.com/2014/10/22/bewitched-remake-nbc-pilot-details-samantha-granddaughter/

It's too bad Hilary Duff has already signed on to do "Younger." I think she would be perfect for the role of Daphne. Perhaps they could get Erin Murphy to reprise the role of Tabitha.

Her name shouldn't be Daphne. It should follow the original series and her name should end in an "a".

maybe they can get Erin Murphy or Lisa Hartman to make a cameo appearance in some episodes as Tabitha.

They need to have Erin play Tabitha period or it won't work if there is nothing familiar about the show.

They need to have Erin play Tabitha period or it won't work if there is nothing familiar about the show.
I think that's one of the reasons "Tabitha" was a failure. No ties to the original series. The producers of this show would be wise to have Erin Murphy reprise the role of Tabitha either as a guest star or as a recurring character!

This better be better than the **** that's on TV now...but I feel that TV has ran out of ideas so they remade every show that's out there now....

They need to have Erin Murphy play Samantha.

Amen! AND NO ONE ELSE! Not to mention David and/or Greg Lawrence play Adam as a warlock! They would be the only continuity left from the old series, unless Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay) is still living....

Amen! AND NO ONE ELSE! Not to mention David and/or Greg Lawrence play Adam as a warlock! They would be the only continuity left from the old series, unless Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay) is still living....

Bernard Fox is still alive. My question is this, would you have Samantha be divorced, widowed, remarried or still with Durwood? If the latter, who should play him?

Bernard Fox is still alive. My question is this, would you have Samantha be divorced, widowed, remarried or still with Durwood? If the latter, who should play him?

Honestly, I don't think they should recast Darren or Samantha. It would be too confusing and people would do too much comparing to the original actors. They need to just make up an excuse as to why Samantha and Darren aren't on the show. Obviously death could be an explanation for Darren's absence, but not Samantha's. I do agree that Erin Murphy should reprise her role as Tabatha, because she's original. Overall, it would probably be best to focus most of the show on Daphne to keep it fresh.

Honestly, I don't think they should recast Darren or Samantha. It would be too confusing.

How would it be confusing? Anyone with a half-a-brain already knows the original actors who played Darrin and Samantha are no longer with us. Recasting roles on TV shows is commonplace and Bewitched did it several times. I seriously doubt that anyone would get confused.

Bad Idea.

*looks up at thread*

Hey, Basil Rathbone's dead, too - does that mean we shouldn't make any more Sherlock Holmes films?

I would look forward to it if it's anything like the original, but since this is 2014 and they want ratings, they'll probably have her cussing like a sailor and jumping in and out of bed with different guys. It'll probably be another one of NBC's crappy shows.

When will these TV execs ever learn? Bionic Woman, Charlie's Angels... have any of these recent remakes ever worked or caught on?

Leave Bewitched in the past where it belongs and try something original for a new series.

And I doubt Erin Murphy would be able to headline a show; only the few diehards who love anything related to the original show would be impressed to see her as a series lead. The suits would want a bankable name or someone whom they could exploit to draw in the 18-to-34-year-old demographic.

When will these TV execs ever learn? Bionic Woman, Charlie's Angels... have any of these recent remakes ever worked or caught on?

Leave Bewitched in the past where it belongs and try something original for a new series.

And I doubt Erin Murphy would be able to headline a show; only the few diehards who love anything related to the original show would be impressed to see her as a series lead. The suits would want a bankable name or someone whom they could exploit to draw in the 18-to-34-year-old demographic.
I follow Erin Murphy on Facebook and I can tell you she has many fans. In my opinion she is a bankable name!!

I follow Erin Murphy on Facebook and I can tell you she has many fans. In my opinion she is a bankable name!!

For the superfans yes, but how many people under the age of 40 would recognize the name? The network and the advertisers would want something that is going to sell.

How would it be confusing? Anyone with a half-a-brain already knows the original actors who played Darrin and Samantha are no longer with us. Recasting roles on TV shows is commonplace and Bewitched did it several times. I seriously doubt that anyone would get confused.

I just think the show would feel more fresh and they could do so much more with it if they kept the focus on Daphne and left Darren and Samantha out of it. Dick and Elizabeth's characters had so many catch phrases and little quirks that would seem cheesy today and I think it would be weird seeing the new actors attempt to recreate them. This show needs a chance to have an identity all its own and IMO, that can best be done with leaving the past in the past and focusing on the present.

I am hoping to see this show get an official 'green light'.

Erin M's involvement would definately help tie the series to the original series. And in promotions for the show, using Erin's Tabitha alongside her daughter may even bring in some viewers. And using clips of the original wouldn't be a bad idea to launch the show either.

Realistically, I think using Tabitha and her presumed husband and including Adam and his family as occassional characters would be fun.

It would be interesting to see if they make Adam a warlock.

Let's hope it'll be better than the 2005 movie.

This sounds interesting.

Let's hope it'll be better than the 2005 movie.

Ugh, that was one of the worst tv adaptations to the big screen. Terrible movie.

Ugh, that was one of the worst tv adaptations to the big screen. Terrible movie.
You got that right!:lol:

Ugh, that was one of the worst tv adaptations to the big screen. Terrible movie.
Thanks for the advice. Now I'll never see it.

I would look forward to it if it's anything like the original, but since this is 2014 and they want ratings, they'll probably have her cussing like a sailor and jumping in and out of bed with different guys. It'll probably be another one of NBC's crappy shows.
I don't want to see any currently produced show, much less one based on a classic show. I'm sure we would like to see additional episodes or adventures of the shows and characters we enjoy, but those shows were a product of their time and in my opinion should be left as such.

How would Samantha and Endora be explained away? Are witches immortal, or do they die? If they do die, then they are mortals after all. I always viewed Bewitched as a funny Sci-fi show like My Favorite Martian. Here is a guy married to more or less an alien being with powers, part of a group of beings who are for the most part ambivalent to hostile towards humans, with others being cranks who mess things up for the worse when they visit.

Bewitched 2005 sucked except for Steve Carrell as Uncle Arthur. That was fantastic and Carrell really had a lot of Paul Lynde down.

I saw him in the trailer and he nailed it. I wonder if Robin Williams would have been just as good.

How would Samantha and Endora be explained away? Are witches immortal, or do they die? If they do die, then they are mortals after all.

Maybe no explanation at all - like Aunt Clara. Marion Lorne died in May, 1968 after filming the fourth season of BEWITCHED (1967-68). When the show returned for season 5 ('68-'69) she was never mentioned again - just no longer part of the show or the story-lines. (I think that's when they increased the roles of Uncle Arthur and Serena).

As for this show's reboot - NBC announced it's 2015-16 schedule, and this was not on the list. So either it didn't get picked up for the next season or it didn't get past the pilot stage.

Or if the show fell through.

And it looks like three years after the announcement was made, it's not happening?

Maybe no explanation at all - like Aunt Clara. Marion Lorne died in May, 1968 after filming the fourth season of BEWITCHED (1967-68). When the show returned for season 5 ('68-'69) she was never mentioned again - just no longer part of the show or the story-lines. (I think that's when they increased the roles of Uncle Arthur and Serena).

As for this show's reboot - NBC announced it's 2015-16 schedule, and this was not on the list. So either it didn't get picked up for the next season or it didn't get past the pilot stage.

But Samantha & Endorra were the 2 stars & repeatedly mentioned they were immortal so it would look ridiculous trying to explain them away.

A mortal dying or a minor witch disappearing is ok but these 2 MADE the show! Looks like it not happening anyway.

And it looks like three years after the announcement was made, it's not happening?

Looks like it. They've been talking about a Gilligan's Island remake for almost 30 years with different directors & cast members but that's never happened either!