The iconic female crime-fighting trio of "Charlie's Angels" is getting yet another big-screen reboot, this time penned by screenwriter Pete Chiarelli, the acclaimed writer behind hits like "Crazy Rich Asians" and "The Proposal." What this really means is that Hollywood's never-ending obsession with recycling beloved intellectual property shows no signs of slowing down.
Rebooting a '70s TV Classic
The original "Charlie's Angels" TV series debuted in 1976 and became a breakout hit, launching the careers of stars like Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith. The show followed a trio of female private investigators working for the mysterious Charlie Townsend, who communicated with them only by telephone.
The franchise was revived for the big screen in the early 2000s with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu in the lead roles, directed by McG. Those films were box office successes, grossing over $250 million each worldwide. However, more recent attempts to reboot the franchise, including a 2019 film directed by Elizabeth Banks, have struggled to capture the same magic.
Chiarelli Tasked with Reviving a Fading Franchise
The bigger picture here is that Hollywood studios are increasingly turning to well-known intellectual property as a shortcut to generating interest and buzz. With the 50th anniversary of the original "Charlie's Angels" TV series looming, Sony is clearly betting that a familiar brand name will draw audiences, even if the previous reboots failed to ignite the public's imagination.
Chiarelli, whose credits include the acclaimed romantic comedy "The Proposal" and the blockbuster "Crazy Rich Asians," will have his work cut out for him in crafting a fresh take on "Charlie's Angels" that resonates with modern audiences. The challenge will be balancing the franchise's inherent camp and sex appeal with a more empowered, progressive vision - a balance that has proven elusive in the past.
Only time will tell if Chiarelli can succeed where others have stumbled. But with the relentless appetite for reboots and IP revivals showing no signs of abating in Hollywood, it's a safe bet that we haven't seen the last of "Charlie's Angels" on the big screen.