Shannen Doherty suggested a ‘Charmed’ reboot before her death: ‘It’s such a good show’
By the power of three…
Shannen Doherty, who died on July 13 at age 53 after a years-long battle with cancer, was open to being in a “Charmed” reboot.
Doherty was best known for her roles in the TV series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” which aired from 1998 to 2006.
She played Prue Halliwell on the first three seasons of “Charmed,” co-starring with Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs. The show followed witchy sisters Prue (Doherty), Piper (Combs) and Phoebe (Milano). Doherty left the show after Season 3 and was replaced by Rose McGowan, who played Paige, the youngest half-sister.
One week before Doherty’s death, a “Charmed” rewatch podcast, called “The House of Halliwell,” was announced with Doherty as one of the co-hosts, alongside Combs, Brian Krause and Drew Fuller.
Five prerecorded episodes of the podcast featuring Doherty will come out posthumously.
The first episode came out July 8. The second episode came out July 15, called “Shannen’s Magic Lives On.”
“How much fun for the four of us to do this and watch everything. And then how much fun for me to watch after I was gone. I never watched it really when I was on it,” Doherty said on the podcast.
“I just rewatched like four or five episodes the other day and my mouth dropped. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, what show is this?’ ” she added. “I was pretty like amazed by it all. I was enthralled.”
“There were episodes that I was like, ‘Wow, that was really good,’ ” she said, adding, “I was really impressed by the pilot, to be honest. I think later on, probably like third season when I know I’m going to die, I will be much more emotional. I’m really looking forward to seeing the episodes that Rose was on, because I didn’t watch.”
When the co-hosts discussed a possible “Charmed” reboot, Doherty shared her idea for where Prue’s life would have taken her.
“I always just sort of thought like she became an elder. She becomes a cool elder, and she becomes the most powerful elder where she can always be down with you guys wearing sick, awesome clothing,” she said.
The CW already did a short-lived controversial “Charmed” reboot, which premiered in 2018 and aired for four seasons, but it featured a new cast.
When the reboot came out and the network described it as a “fierce, funny and feminist” reboot, McGowan, 50, and Combs were not impressed that they weren’t invited to be involved.
“I haven’t seen it . . . I’m happy that people have jobs. But it can still suck,” McGowan said.
Combs, 50, blasted the reboot at the time, saying, “I will never understand what is fierce, funny or feminist in creating a show that basically says the original actresses are too old to do a job they did 12 years ago. I hope the new show is far better than the marketing so the true legacy does remain.”
Doherty and her former co-stars seemed to be talking about a different reboot that they would be involved in, unlike the 2018 reboot.
Doherty said, “I think if we ever got a return text or phone call from Connie [Burge, the creator] and we actually went in and had a whole idea and pitched it to CBS, I don’t know why they wouldn’t do it. It’s so successful. Right? Why wouldn’t you do it?”
She added, “And bringing us back with the sort of the loud chatter of everybody’s dynamic and who got along and who didn’t. I can’t imagine CBS would say no. It’s such a good show that we should really revisit and do a version.”
The description of Monday’s podcast episode further explained that the podcast project was already in the works before Doherty passed away.
“This show, this character, this podcast meant so much to Shannen she couldn’t wait to share it with ‘Charmed’ fans everywhere,” it read.
“We want to honor her memory, and fulfill Shannen’s wishes by airing the first five episodes she recorded before her passing. She was passionate about this project and proud to have played Prue Halliwell, we hope these episodes offer some comfort for everyone who loved her.”
Her former co-star Krause said on Monday’s episode, “Shannen was just so motivated and determined to help make this show a success and give all of you more insight into what it was in the making, in the fun, in the behind the scenes of ‘Charmed.’ When Shannen wanted to get something done, she got it done, and that’s something I learned a long time ago watching her on set.”
He added, “Meeting the fans and hearing the stories and knowing how much it meant to all of you, it filled her greatly, and I know that she believed in ‘The House of Halliwell’ to be the little bit that she’s able to give back.”
Regarding the future of the podcast, he said, “We are gonna continue on in her name and kick frickin’ ass, because that’s what she would do.”
After Doherty’s death, McGowan wrote on Instagram that she had “the heart of a lion,” describing how the two actresses first met in the ’90s before getting to know each other better later in life.
“Our lives had been intertwined in a unique way,” McGowan said in her lengthy tribute.
“We laughed at dark forces who wanted us to hate each other, instead we chose love and respect. A soft-hearted badass as there ever was. A force of energy that will live forever in hearts. May angels and God carry her to the holy kingdom where she is healthy, young and wild forever. Rest now warrior, we will never forget you dear sister.”
Despite their feud, Milano, 51, shared a statement to The Post after Doherty’s death.
“It’s no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but at its core was someone I deeply respected and was in awe of,” Milano said.
She added, “She was a talented actress, beloved by many and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”
Ted King, who played Doherty’s love interest, Andy Trudeau, shared a post that said, “We created a special television couple for the ages. My heart goes out to your family. Rest in peace Shannen, rest in peace.”
