‘Charlie’s Angels’: New Brazil-Set Series For Tweens In Works At Sony Pictures Television
EXCLUSIVE: A reimagination of the Charlie’s Angels franchise for tweens set in Brazil is in development from Sony Pictures Television – Kids and Sony Pictures Television-backed Floresta.
Viewers can expect the same high-octane action and comedy from the various Charlie’s Angels projects as well as a mysterious boss and empowered young female characters. Brazilian actress and writer, Suzana Pires (Sol Nascente; Flor do Caribe) will pen the Portuguese-language, live-action collaboration.
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At the center of the tale are three pre-teens from different backgrounds and realities who are selected by a talent scout according to their special skills to join a secret school of spies called the Angels Academy. Each episode will follow the angels as they solve crimes and save the world…all while navigating their first year of spy school. The stories will blend a mix of real, relatable and at times, absurd cases, amped up with elements of fun and wish fulfillment.
“We’re excited to have an opportunity to evolve this incredible Sony IP for a younger modern audience,” said Joe D’Ambrosia, EVP & General Manager, SPT – Kids. “We’re leaning into must-see cliffhanger storytelling, while also staying true to the original premise of the show: mystery, adventure, comedy, and empowered young females who balance homework, softball practice and being teenagers all while saving the world.”
“When Thiago Teitelroit (Floresta) and Sony invited me to be a part of the adaptation of Charlie’s Angels in Brazil, I could only respond with a resounding yes,” said Pires. “We will deliver elaborate spy plots and lots of adventure with the essential touch of comedy and a narrative spin. A great Latin entertainment piece for everyone to enjoy.”
The franchise began with the TV series Charlie’s Angels which ran from 1976 to 1981 on ABC, created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts with Aaron Spelling producing. The show followed three adult private investigators—Sabrina Duncan (Kate Johnson), Jill Munroe (Farrah Fawcett) and Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith)—who fight crime at the behest of their boss Charlie Townsend, who was only heard through a speaker (voiced by John Forsythe) and not seen. Casting changes across 5 seasons brought in various ladies as “Angels,” including Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack and Tanya Roberts. Various other versions of the original followed.
The most popular adaptations include:
A small-screen remake of the same name premiered on ABC in 2011, starring Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly and Rachael Taylor as “Angels” with Ramon Rodriguez as John Bosley and Victor Garber voicing Charlie. The project developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar was canceled after four episodes due to low ratings.
For the big screen, a revival film also titled Charlie’s Angels (2000) starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu directed by McG was a smash and spawned a sequel titled Full Throttle (2003). Forsythe returned as the voice of Charlie in both titles with Full Throttle serving as his final role before retiring.
Most recently, Elizabeth Banks directed new Angels, Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska with OG Jaclyn Smith taking over Charlie duties in her original role.
“Floresta’s fiction department was extremely excited to team on this reboot with our partners at SPT – Kids,” said Thiago Teitelroit, Floresta’s Scripted Creative Director. “It’s rare for franchises to have crossed so many generations never failing to entertain massive audiences. It’s a unique opportunity not only considering the market but especially because Brazilian viewers get to explore new venues of enjoyment with such charismatic and timeless characters. And there is no one better than Suzana Pires, given her talent and exceptional contributions to empower women in the audiovisual field, to bring the new Angels to life.”
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