The Angels are suiting up for another mission.
Sony Pictures is in early development on a new feature version of ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ the female-fronted 1970s TV crime drama turned big-screen action franchise. Screenwriter Pete Chiarelli has been tapped to pen the screenplay.
Chiarelli is best known for his work on ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ ‘Now You See Me 2,’ ‘The Proposal,’ and Sony Pictures Animation’s latest movie ‘Goat,’ which debuted in theaters Friday.
‘Charlie’s Angels,’ a crime drama about three women working at the Townsend private detective agency, debuted in 1976 and quickly dominated pop culture. The series originally starred Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith in the leading roles, catapulting them into TV history. Cheryl Ladd joined in season two and stayed through the rest of its 115-episode run. John Forsythe voiced their unseen boss, Charlie Townsend, who directed operations over the telephone.
At the turn of the century, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu took on the iconic roles and launched the franchise into blockbuster territory. The 2000 reboot, directed by McG, grossed $264 million worldwide and spawned the 2003 sequel ‘Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.’ Barrymore produced both under her Flower Films banner.
More recent attempts haven’t been as successful. The 2011 TV reboot was canceled after eight episodes on ABC, while Elizabeth Banks‘ 2019 film starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska underperformed at the box office, earning just $73 million globally.
As the 50th anniversary of the landmark series approaches, Sony is reevaluating its big-screen potential. The IP’s cult status remains strong, and there’s no shortage of brilliant, beautiful actors who’d relish the chance to work for Charlie and kick some ass.