Is ‘Bewitched’ Too Outdated and Sexist to Return to TV? A Look at the Upcoming Remake
What To Know
- Fox is developing a modern reimagining of the classic TV series Bewitched.
- The original show has been criticized for its outdated and sexist themes.
- The upcoming remake aims to update the premise by focusing on compromise.
Everyone’s favorite small-screen sorceress is returning to primetime, but will she receive a modern makeover?
On Monday, November 3, Deadline reported that Fox has put into development an hour-long reimagining of the classic TV series Bewitched. The original sitcom starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, a witch-turned-homemaker who agrees to give up her magic to please her husband, Darrin (first played by Dick York, later by Dick Sargent).
Courtesy of Everett Collection
Inspired by the 1942 film I Married a Witch, the series followed Samantha as she tried to live a “normal” mortal life, only to rely on magic whenever things went sideways, usually to the frustration of the mortals around her, especially Darrin, who regularly put his foot down over her supernatural shortcuts.
In the TV show, Samantha didn’t reveal she was a witch until after the “I do,” which sent Darrin into a tizzy. She admitted she had been planning to give it up for him, but as the show went on, Darrin kept pressuring her to stop using witchcraft. For eight seasons, the series followed Samantha as she tried to live a normal suburban life while her witchy relatives (and the occasional doctor) popped in, stirred up trouble, and caused chaos.
But by the end of most episodes, Darrin would circle back to the same point: that life was better without magic, that being “normal” was the goal, and that hiding a huge part of herself was somehow the respectable, sensible thing to do. It became the show’s running theme: Samantha loved Darrin while Darrin tried to convince her that dulling her shine was best.
The 2005 movie starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell managed to skirt this issue by going meta, making the film about the making of a TV show that casts an actual witch named Isabel (Kidman) for the role of Samantha, who decides she wants to live a mortal existence. Instead of demanding she give up a part of herself, actor Jack Wyatt (Ferrell) accepts her for who she is, hexes and all.
Courtesy of Everett Collection
So, what stance will the new series take?
According to the publication, the new version will shift the tone toward compromise, with the couple trying to live in both worlds instead of one giving up everything for the other. They’re still in love, but now the story focuses on how they “bridge the divide” between the mortal world and the magical one. It’s a far better setup than watching yet another Samantha forced to abandon her identity just to make her husband comfortable.
TV Insider