About 20 years elapsed between the original TV version of Charlie’s Angels and its first, spy-fi film adaptation. Now, it’s taken less than five. The franchise, which had a short-lived TV reboot in 2011, will once again be reimagined for the big screen.
Elizabeth Banks, the talented actor turned blockbuster director, will produce and probably direct a new movie version of the series for Sony Pictures, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The show—which follows a group of mysterious and seductive private detectives—ran from 1976 to 1981, first starring Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith (pictured below). McG then directed a film version in 2000 with Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, which garnered a 2003 sequel (above). Then, in 2011, ABC brought the show back with Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, and Rachael Taylor, but it only lasted a few episodes.
The question on everyone’s mind is probably, “Why?” But the answer is simple. Charlie’s Angels is a recognizable brand name with a concept (beautiful, talented women kick ass) that’s incredibly malleable and marketable. While it’s usually played on the kitschy side, you can easily imagine versions that vary in tone from from Naked Gun to James Bond. Goofy and funny, sly and cool, serious and striking, Charlie’s Angels can be anything. And audiences still turn out for good spy movies.
At this point in time though, we don’t know what Banks and her producer husband, Max Handelman, have planned for the franchise, nor when it’ll happen. Banks is a very sought-after director in the wake of Pitch Perfect 2’s success, and has been rumored alongside several projects, including the sequel to that sequel. If she was to direct that or something else, Charlie’s Angels would be a few years off. Plus, there’s not even a mention of a script existing yet.
As someone who considers themselves a fan of the McG films (yes, even Full Throttle) on the one hand, I do feel it’s a little soon for a Charlie’s Angels reboot. On the other hand, they certainly aren’t movies you think about too often. Maybe it’s time for a whole new generation to meet the Angels.
Images: Sony Pictures, ABC
Contact the author at germain@io9.com.