The newly announced “Charmed” reboot hails from “Jane the Virgin” showrunner Jennie Urman, and that was all The CW president Mark Pedowitz needed to order a script for the project,
The executive told reporters following his executive session at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour in Pasadena Sunday It was Urman’s idea to do “Charmed” in the 1970s, though at the time there’s no real connection to the 1990s with drama starring Shannon Doherty, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs.
“At this point, it is a self-contained, self-sustained show,” Pedowitz said during his panel. “There is the power of three element in there, but at this time, it is a very standalone show.”
After the panel he elaborated that it’s completely the writer’s vision and the network merely supports it.
“Jennie had a take,” he said. “This is where you have to have faith in the people who have helped change you. Jennie had a take, she came in with her team, a great team of people… Our attitude was, Jennie has a take, let’s go for it… It just has to be Jennie for me [to say yes]. You know that it’s not going to be a factory spun-out show. It’s going to be unique. She can’t help herself, she is so hands on in what she does. Whether it works or doesn’t work, at least I know her sweat and blood is in it in a way that makes it different.”
Another project that garnered some interest for the network was the previously announced series adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ “The Notebook,” though that appears to not be going forward at this time.
“‘The Notebook,’ we did not find another writer to go back in so at the moment it’s in the banks,” Pedowitz said.
Earlier in the day, The CW renewed seven of its fall series, “Arrow, “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Legends of Tomorrow,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Supernatural” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”