Holly Marie Combs looks back on Charmed and the controversy surrounding the 2018 reboot

More than twenty years after the launch of the cult series Charmed, actress Holly Marie Combs, best known for her role as Piper Halliwell, attended the Book of Shadows Con convention. During her visit to Paris, she gave us an interview. She reflected on her involvement in the original series as well as the reception of the reboot launched in 2018, which sparked many reactions among fans.

Holly Marie Combs and Shannen Doherty’s strong commitment to Charmed

Aired between 1998 and 2006, Charmed tells the story of three witch sisters, the Halliwells, who discover their powers and fight the forces of evil. The series notably brought widespread recognition to a very popular trio of actresses, including Holly Marie Combs and Shannen Doherty. Despite Doherty’s passing in 2024, the actress who played Piper continues to keep her memory alive.

In the interview, Combs emphasized how committed she and her co-star were to the success of the show :

“I was very serious about Charmed, I was very dedicated. As was Shannen. We wanted so wholeheartedly for it to be well received. I think I would’ve just enjoyed it a little bit more. But I’m glad that I did take it so seriously because we get to do this (the convention) 20 years later“.

This statement highlights the actresses’ dedication during the early seasons of the series. At the time, Charmed was one of the most popular fantasy productions on American television, particularly on the network The WB. Its mix of family drama, magic, and humor helped build a loyal fan community that still revisits the series today.

The Charmed reboot in 2018: a mixed reception

In 2018, the American network The CW launched a new version of Charmed. This adaptation, featuring a new cast and a new storyline, aimed to introduce the universe of the series to a new generation.

However, the project quickly sparked controversy. Several actors from the original series had expressed reservations when the reboot was first announced. Holly Marie Combs notably reacted to it at the time :

“Until you ask us to rewrite it like Brad Kern did weekly don’t even think of capitalizing on our hard work. Charmed belongs to the 4 of us, our vast amount of writers, crews and predominantly the fans. FYI you will not fool them by owning a title/stamp. So bye.“

The Charmed reboot ultimately ran for four seasons starting in 2018. Despite an initially curious fan base, the series never regained the cultural impact of the original version. In 2022, The CW announced that the show had been canceled.

During our interview, Holly Marie Combs reflected on the Charmed reboot with a bit more perspective :

“I think that’s the rule of sequels right ? You have to respect the original. So that was awkward. But it was a testament to the show and that they wanted to show it to a new generation.“

You can discover her full thoughts on the reboot, as well as her experience on the cult series, in our full interview below.

If you want to watch more Charmed content, you can find some on our playlist.