The CW has announced which of its pilot episode projects will be getting full-season orders this time around, and it’s an interesting mix of exciting news and bitter disappointments. This time of year, known as ‘pick-up season’, is always a bittersweet time for TV fans.
The good news is that The CW has ordered three exciting new series: a reboot of Charmed, a reboot of Roswell, and a spinoff of The Originals by the name of Legacies. The bad news, particularly for Supernatural fans, is that Wayward Sisters – a spinoff from the network’s long-running spooky drama – will not be pressing ahead.
The new version of Charmed centres on three sisters, Macy (Madeleine Mantock), Mel (Melonie Diaz) and Maggie Vera (Sarah Jeffery). The synopsis is here:
“After the tragic death of their mother, three sisters in a college town are stunned to discover they are witches. Soon this powerful threesome must stand together to fight the everyday and supernatural battles that all modern witches must face: from vanquishing powerful demons to toppling the patriarchy.”
The new version of Roswell is entitled Roswell, New Mexico and this is what its plot looks like:
“After reluctantly returning to her tourist-trap hometown of Roswell, New Mexico, the daughter of undocumented immigrants discovers a shocking truth about her teenage crush who is now a police officer: he’s an alien who has kept his unearthly abilities hidden his entire life.
“She protects his secret as the two reconnect and begin to investigate his origins, but when a violent attack and long-standing government cover-up point to a greater alien presence on Earth, the politics of fear and hatred threaten to expose him and destroy their deepening romance.”
Legacies, meanwhile, will follow The Originals (which itself was a spinoff of The Vampire Diaries). Here’s how The CW describes it:
“Continuing the tradition of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, the story of the next generation of supernatural beings at The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted. Klaus Mikaelson’s daughter, 17-year-old Hope Mikaelson; Alaric Saltzman’s twins, Lizzie and Josie Saltzman; and other young adults come of age in the most unconventional way possible, nurtured to be their best selves…in spite of their worst impulses.
“Will these young witches, vampires and werewolves become the heroes they want to be – or the villains they were born to be?”
As for the doomed Supernatural spinoff, Wayward Sisters, this project would have allowed the female law enforcement characters from the main series to shine in their own show. It won’t be going ahead, though, which left executive producer Andrew Dabb with the sad job of breaking the news:
“It breaks my heart to say this, but CW has chosen to pass on Wayward Sisters. We love these characters, and have spent almost two years trying to make this show a reality on the network… but there are some fights, sometimes, you can’t win.
“I want to thank everyone involved in this entire process, from our fantastic crew, to our amazing cast, and, most of all you. Your passion for this idea fueled us, and we wanted so much to make this happen for you. I’m so sorry we couldn’t.
“But know that these characters will live on. We owe them, and you, and us that.”
So rather than spinning out as the fans had hoped, these characters will return to the fold of the main Supernatural series. At least they aren’t lost forever, then.
More as we hear it.