Did The 'Charmed' Cast Quitting Cause The Show To Be Canceled?
Especially in recent years, networks and streamers alike have been particularly aggressive when it comes to show cancellation. That said, fans were still shocked when it was recently announced that The CW is pulling the plug on Charmed.As fans of the show may know, the network decided to reboot the 90s show after it ended its initial run back in 2006. The original Charmed aired for nine successful seasons (despite tensions between some cast members behind the scenes) with a cast that was led by Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, and later on, Rose McGowan.Meanwhile, the network’s reboot had been running for four seasons when the decision to cancel it was made. And it seems the show's problems go beyond ratings.
The ’Charmed’ Reboot Features A Younger Cast
The Charmed reboot may have remained true to the original storyline (sisters who discover they are witches following their mother’s death). However, it also opted for a visibly younger cast with relative newcomers Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz, and Sarah Jeffery portraying the powerful siblings.
For the show’s executive producer, Jennie Snyder Urman (who is best known for Jane the Virgin) it was important to pay homage to the original show and respect its dedicated fanbase. “That was something we thought about a lot: how to pay homage to the original, how to respect it and not tamper with what they had and the mythology they created,” she explained.
At the same time, however, the team behind the show also felt that the reboot needed to have its own identity and with everything that’s been going only lately, they also strived to make the show more inclusive.
“We felt that in the updated version we wanted to reflect what was happening in 2018, the reality of the world that we live in,” writer Amy Rardin explained. “We also wanted to tell different stories that hadn’t necessarily been told on television before, so it was very important to us to have an inclusive cast.”
‘Charmed’ Has Been Plagued With Problems In Recent Years
Admittedly, the Charmed reboot got off to a rocky start, getting average reviews and rather unimpressive ratings. Not to mention, some of the stars from the original Charmed didn’t like the idea of bringing the show back.
And just when it seemed like the series was finally finding its footing in the later seasons, sudden cast exits left fans in utter shock. In 2021, Mantock, who plays the eldest sister Macy Vaughn, announced that she wouldn’t be returning to the show.
“Playing Macy on Charmed for the last three seasons has been an immense privilege and I have so enjoyed working with our fantastic producers, creatives, cast and crew,” the actress said in a statement. “I’m incredibly grateful to The CW and CBS Studios for my time on the show and for being a brilliant support in my difficult decision to leave.”
Following Mantock’s exit, cast member Poppy Drayton also revealed that she was leaving the show. Meanwhile, in the previous seasons, Charmed also saw the exit of regulars Ser’Darius Blain, Ellen Tamaki, and Nick Hargrove.
Here’s Why The ‘Charmed’ Reboot Got Canceled
The CW announced the cancellation of Charmed alongside its decision to also ax Dynasty and Roswell New Mexico. And as far as anyone could tell, it seems the network pulled the plug (on all these shows) due to low ratings. In fact, reports indicate that the fourth season of Charmed pulled in less than 400,000 viewers on average on Friday nights.
At the same time, it seems that The CW’s decision to discontinue its arrangement with Netflix also hurt the show. On its own, The CW has reportedly not been profitable, and the network had been relying on streaming partnerships for revenue. Under the deal with Netflix, the streamer’s subscribers would have access to shows such as Charmed, The Flash, Riverdale, and Dynasty.
Recently, however, The CW decided not to renew its Netflix deal because its parent companies, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment, would prefer to make its original content available on its own streaming platforms (CBS launched Paramount+ in 2021 while Warner Bros.’ HBO Max made its debut a year earlier). And without any more revenue flow from Netflix, it didn’t really make much sense for The CW to keep spending on Charmed.
At the same time, it is also believed that The CW’s future is somewhat uncertain as the network itself is being put on sale. That said, a potential buyer has come forward in the form of Nextstar who appears to be on quite the buying spree in recent years (it purchased a news outlet the Hill in 2021 for $130 million).
Unfortunately for the show, it’s not really a situation in which Netflix could come in and save the day (just like what it eventually did for NBC’s Manifest). In the meantime, however, fans can take comfort in knowing that Charmed is still available on Netflix. For how much longer? That remains to be seen.
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