It looks like Wanda’s Hex is expanding to Hollywood. After WandaVision rekindled interest in the 1960s-70s sitcom Bewitched, Sony has announced plans to turn the show into a feature film.
The original series starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, a witch who tries living a quiet life in the suburbs with her mortal husband, Darrin (originally played by Dick York, later Dick Sargent). Despite Samantha suppressing her magical abilities, their serene existence is constantly threatened to be upended due to the interference of Samantha’s proudly witchy family including her mother Endora (Agnes Moorehead… wait, Agnes?!), and the Stephens’ nosey human neighbor, Gladys Kravitz (Sandra Gould).
As you can see, this show was a MAJOR influence on WandaVision and not just the one episode set in the ’60s. And with as much buzz as WandaVision has created, more people are talking about Bewitched than they have in 50 years! It makes sense for Sony to try and seize the day.
Showrunners of the MacGuyver and 12 Monkeys TV shows, Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett will pen the screenplay. John Davis and John Fox are producing through Davis Entertainment.
The original Bewitched series ran for eight seasons, from 1964 to 1972 on ABC. A sequel series, Tabitha, focusing on Samantha and Darrin’s teenage daughter, debuted in 1977 but only lasted one season.
Sony released a previous film adaptation in 2005, directed by Nora Ephron and starring Nicole Kidman as Samantha, Will Ferrell as Darrin, and Shirley Maclaine as Endora. Unfortunately, this version flopped.
In 2018, Kenya Barris (black-ish) attempted to create an updated TV series that would have mixed things up a bit, with Samantha being depicted as a black hard-working, single mother and Darrin as a white male slacker. (So clearly, they weren’t yet married.) The series would have hinged on the reality that even with actual magical powers, Samantha had less “power” in the world than her tall, handsome white partner. A pilot was pitched to ABC, who passed.
Are you intrigued by the idea of a new film version of Bewitched?
Source: Deadline
