Television

Samantha Stephens is flying back to television screens soon - with a most magical twist! The original ABC sitcom Bewitched ran from 1964 to '72 and followed the relationship between the immortal witch Samantha, played by Elizabeth Montgomery, and her mortal husband Darrin. Sony Pictures Television is now reimagining the series as an animated children's show, still with the Stephens family. Joe D'Ambrosia, executive vice president and general manager of Sony Pictures Television-Kids, has described the upcoming project as "Hannah Montana meets Harry Potter," all centered around the next generation of magic-wielders, focusing on Sam's daughter Tabitha. What to expect from the animated reboot of 'Bewitched' BEWITCHED, standing from left: David White, Kasey Rogers, Robert F. Simon, Alice Ghostley, Bernie Kopell; seated, from left: Dick Sargent, Elizabeth Montgomery, Maurice Evans, Agnes Moorehead, Bernard Fox; on floor in front: Paul Lynde, Erin Murphy, Diane Murphy, David Lawrence, Greg Lawrence, (1970s) 1964-1972. ph: Gene Trindl / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection Samantha and Stephen's daughter Tabitha is 13 years old in this upcoming animated rendition of Bewitched. This, D'Ambrosia hopes, will serve as a bridge between this old, nostalgic classic and a new generation of potential fans. BEWITCHED, Dick York, Elizabeth Montgomery, Erin/Diane Murphy, 1964-72 / Everett Collection RELATED: ‘Bewitched’ Cast Then And Now 2023 "here's such a vast history at Sony Pictures Television with properties that we could play around with and reinvent, introducing a whole new generation of kids to them," said D'Ambrosia. By time of writing, there is no set release date and the project is in the early stages of production, so there are no writers definitively tied to the show. The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike is expected to prolong this. Revisiting the past in the present This version of Bewitched will be totally animated / Everett Collection The characters of Bewitched became iconic through the '60s and '70s. This show, like so many nostalgic giants of those decades, has been the subject of reimaginings. For example, a movie released in 2005 that starred Nicole Kidman as Isabel Bigelow, an undercover witch-turned-actress recruited to play Samantha in a Bewitched remake, while Will Ferrell played narcissistic actor Jack Wyatt. It was originally animated by Hanna-Barbera / YouTube screenshot This reimagining did not perform well at the box office and did not amass favorable reviews. But Sony Pictures Television — Kids is very busy revisiting other familiar titles and giving them a fresh twist. Most notably, they're planning kids' versions of Shark Tank and Wheel of Fortune, the latter of which is expected to incorporate physical pranks and comedic tasks to progress. Additionally, the studio is looking to make an animated Partridge Family show, to go along with Bewitched. Will you be watching this cartoon version of the Stephens family?