How Shannen Doherty Reveals the Key to Reviving a 'Charmed' Reunion
Discover the crucial steps as Shannen Doherty shares insights on what fans need to do to bring back the iconic 'Charmed' series for a long-awaited reunion show.
Shannen Doherty Explains What Fans Have to Do to Get a 'Charmed' Reboot Greenlit
Shannen Doherty. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hallmark Channel
Shannen Doherty shared some advice for Charmed fans who want to see an official reunion series with the original cast approved.
According to Doherty, 53, on her "Let's Be Clear" podcast episode on Monday, May 20, actors don't have the rights to a show unless they created, wrote, and produced it. She mentioned that CBS owns the show and only CBS has the power to make a reunion happen.
Doherty and her costars do not have the power to approve a new Charmed project. However, she urged fans of the series not to give up and to take matters into their own hands. She advised fans to take action by bombarding CBS' Instagram, Facebook, and sending mail. Doherty also suggested starting petitions and submitting them. This is the best way to make a new project happen.
Doherty hinted at a possible reunion, joking that it would need to happen soon if fans didn't want to see them as grandmas. She was part of the Charmed cast for three seasons, playing one of the Halliwell sisters alongside Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano. Combs and Milano continued on the show for eight seasons, joined by Rose McGowan in season four as Paige, Doherty's replacement.
Shannen Doherty Explains What Fans Have to Do to Get a 'Charmed' Reboot Greenlit
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The original Charmed aired from 1998 to 2006. In 2018, a reboot series for the CW was ordered with a new cast of characters. Many of the stars and writers from the original show criticized the reboot for not involving the original cast.
In 2018, Combs tweeted her disapproval, stating, “Until you ask us to rewrite it like [showrunner] Brad Kern did weekly, don’t even think of capitalizing on our hard work.” She continued, “Charmed belongs to the 4 of us, our vast amount of writers, crews and predominantly the fans. FYI you will not fool them by owning a title/stamp. So bye.”
Tensions escalated not only with the new Charmed series but also among the original stars. During a podcast episode in December 2023, Combs claimed that Milano had played a role in getting Doherty fired from the show. Milano, on the other hand, strongly denied these accusations. This exchange of words reignited a feud that seemed to have started off-screen during the filming of Charmed.
Doherty addressed the situation during an appearance at Megacon in February, stating, “Holly and I were not trying to be mean on my podcast ‘Let’s Be Clear.’ We actually edited out anything that we felt would stir up more drama. We were simply sharing the truth because the truth is important. Our aim was to protect you, the fans, from unnecessary heartbreak as much as possible.”
McGowan and Doherty never acted together, but they have become close friends over time. Doherty mentioned on her podcast that she is looking forward to having a chat with McGowan soon. She expressed how much they enjoy each other's company and how they have a strong bond. Doherty confirmed that McGowan will definitely be a guest on her podcast in the future. She also mentioned her admiration for McGowan's strong sense of self and values.
