We attended the Charmed panel as well as the press room at San Diego Comic-Con 2018 and have plenty of information and insight to offer up about the reboot.

To start off, Madeleine Mantock, Sarah Jeffrey, and Melonie Diaz, who play Macy, Maggie, and Mel, respectively, were joined at their panel by producers Jennie Snyder Urman and Jessica O’Toole.

The first thing we got to do was watch the premiere episode of the Charmed reboot. As a fan of the original show, I have to say I found it quite endearing. Other than some issues with it feeling a bit rushed, it did what it had to do, which was introduce us to our new Charmed ones and the world they inhabit.

This does not feel like the original show, but that may be for the best. It shares a lot of similarities with the source material, of course, but it also tackles topics that are extremely current. Although Charmed was not afraid to wear its feminism on its sleeve, the reboot is perhaps even more overt in its portrayal of issues that many women face.

This is the kind of show we, as women, need right now.

Each of the three sisters has a distinct personality and brings something different to the table. All three actors feel comfortable in their roles and play off each other nicely. This show will live or die with the relationship between the sisters, and so far they’re off to a good start.

The real MVP, however, is Harry, played by Rupert Evans, who brings an interesting dynamic to the sisters and is easily the funniest person on the show. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how their relationship develops over time, as right now he’s a bit Bosley to their Charlie’s Angels.

After the Charmed premiere aired, we got a chance to hear from the actresses and producers about the show. Here are some of the best tidbits to come out of the panel:

• Melonie Diaz was the first sister cast. Madeleine Mantock did her audition over Skype!
• To bond, the ladies made a group chat and had dinner together, but the chemistry was completely natural and authentic.
• The elephant in the room was addressed about halfway through, when the panel was asked what they would say to fans of the original show who may be worried. Both producers agreed that the show pays homage to the original, but they wanted to show a different side of this world.
• “We come in peace,” Madeleine said. There are plenty of core similarties, and they truly hope they can reach all kinds of fans.
• Speaking about showing a different side, all the women on the panel talked about how important diversity was in casting and writing the show, and how important it is to be able to see yourself on screen.
• Regarding the LGBTQ+ representation, it was something that came naturally when creating Mel’s character and not something they had to force in there.
• The show will have lots of different kinds of love stories and love triangles with various complications, like secrets and demons, but at its core, this is a love triangle between the three sisters.
• The powers will develop over time, both as they gain more control over them and as the powers start to evolve, like in the original show. (And yes, acting them out feels a bit funny to all three ladies!)
• A type of demon they hope to incorporate is one that possesses a FitBit and steals your youth/life force by making you walk until you die.
• Keep your eye out for a Melinda Warren reference!
• Don’t hold your breathe for a Jane the Virgin crossover!
• The show hopes to be modern and timely, and wishes to make us all feel a little less alone.

Following the panel, we also got to interview Jennie Snyder Urman in the press room, and she had a couple cool insights to share:

• They original show laid groundwork that they are now looking at 20 years later to see how it can be updated for a new audience.
• Don’t be surprised if you end up seeing some of the same kinds of villains from the original!
• The Whitelighter’s ability to orb looks differnt than the original, which is in part due to the fact that special effects are now much more sophisticated.
• They’d love for some of the original stars to cameo, but right now they’re focusing on getting to know the three main women.
• Asked about how much intention went into putting women behind the camera as much as in front of it, Jennie said they wanted to make sure to have women of all color in the writers room to make sure it was as authentic to all perspectives as possible.
• She also said she wants the show to be fun but wants to address the need to affect change.
• In case you’re wondering, yes, we will learn Macy’s backstory, including why her mother gave her up and what she was told vs. the truth.
  

  Are you feeling better about the ‘Charmed’ reboot following all this new information?