Earlier this year, the CW unveiled its first trailer for the hugely-anticipated Charmed reboot — and it looks so much better than we’d hoped.

Described as a “fierce, funny, feminist reboot of the original series”, the show “centres on three sisters in a college town who discover they are witches”.

And, while this leads to them vanquishing supernatural demons and, y’know, tearing down the patriarchy, the trailer has confirmed that their magical abilities are triggered by the death of their beloved mother.

Speaking in a voiceover, Marisol (Valerie Cruz) can be heard giving her daughters, Maggie (Sarah Jeffery) and Mel (Melonie Diaz), a seriously empowering pep talk.

“I feel so lucky to be the mother of two special young women — special in such different ways,” she says. “Always remember that you’re better together, your differences are your strengths, and nothing is stronger than your sisterhood.

“Nurture that.”

The trailer then cuts to Maggie and Mel receiving a text from Marisol, urging them them to come home immediately. When they do, they find her dead, having seemingly fallen from the attic window.

Unsurprisingly, the police report the incident as a tragic accident, but Mel refuses to accept that. But, after launching into a furious argument with Maggie, she is interrupted by a knock at the door.

That’s right: say hello to Maggie and Mel’s long-lost older sister, Macy (Madeleine Mantock).

As the trio struggle to make sense of what’s happening, their hidden powers start manifesting out of nowhere: Mel with the ability to freeze time, Maggie with telepathy, and Macy with telekinesis.

It’s up to Harry Greenwood (Rupert Evans), an old friend of their mother and their self-proclaimed advisor, to inform the trio that they come from a line of witches and that they are indeed The Charmed Ones.

And, as ever, great power comes with great responsibility: it’s now up to them to protect humankind, fighting off demons and other dark forces that emerge after someone in the underworld learns that their powers have been activated. Eep.

Check it out:

Penned for the network by Jane the Virgin writing duo Jessica O’Toole and Amy Rardin, Charmed premieres on The CW later this year.

And, speaking to E!, Mark Pedowitz, president of The CW, has said he wants critics of the remake to give the show a shot.

“Hopefully they will give this new cast a chance,” he said. “It is not quite the same [as the original], yet there are many similarities. Hopefully they’ll give it a shot. We are happy with who we cast, we think it’s a nice mix.”

But after the reboot was heavily criticised by the show’s original star, Holly Marie Combs, the new cast – Sarah Jeffery, Madeleine Mantock and Melonie Diaz – and producers – Jennie Snyder Urman and Jessica O’Toole – came together for a panel discussion at Comic-Con to share some interesting details about the revival. 

“The original was so much about female empowerment and sisterhood and strong women taking over the world and I feel like that’s what we need right now,” said Urman, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “It felt like a good time to get back to that and show women kicking ass.”

But the producers have promised not to mess with the much loved original. 

“Charmed is so iconic,” Jeffery said. “They laid the groundwork and we want to be respectful of that and the mythology of everything. We want to honor it while bringing a modern twist. Come join us!”

Mantock added: “We come in peace. The original was so wonderful and they were trailblazers and we could not be here without them. There is something in here for everyone, little treats for [original fans].”

Even though the reboot isn’t a carbon copy of the original, Urman promised that they’re “referencing all that came before.”

“We’re so grateful because we love the original and we’re huge fans,” she added. “That’s why we wanted to do this. It’s rooted in the original, deeply rooted in the original.”

We’re invested. 

Originally published on 18 May 2018 Updated on 20 July 2018 by Susan Devaney. 

Image: The CW