Charlie’s Angels has always been a somewhat fickle franchise. It started as a groundbreaking television series in the 70s that became a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for decades after the series ended its original run. It joined the ranks of Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman and Lindsay Wagner’s The Bionic Woman as a television series that didn’t portray women as damsels in distress but rather as their own heroes. What's more, Charlie’s Angels was the first primetime series that consistently featured three women as the show’s lead characters.
The show would remain a cult classic until the year 2000 when Drew Barrymore created her own production company and bought the rights to the series. Along with Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu, Barrymore translated the notoriety of a 70s television series into huge box office numbers with a Charlie’s Angels film, and it's subsequent sequel in 2004, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
Update September 16, 2023: This article has been updated by Jessica Peerez with more recent developments about the possibility of a third Charlie's Angels film.
The film franchise was able to create a modern spin on the original Charlie’s Angels concept — having a team of three beautiful and powerful women working as private detectives — but elevated it enough to reach a new generation of fans by also having the women be best friends. Both a reboot of the television series in 2011 and of the film franchise in 2019 (this time, starring Kristen Stewart) failed to capture the magic of the previous two Charlie’s Angels movies, but having Barrymore, Diaz, and Liu return to the franchise could ensure a successful revival of the Charlie’s Angels brand. Here’s why.
Drew Barrymore Cherishes the Franchise
With its equal parts sexy and smart, the original Charlie's Angels television series became an instant hit with many viewers, including Barrymore herself, who became a fan of the series during its run in syndication. Barrymore loved the show so much that when she created her own production company, Flower Films, in 1995, it was one of the first properties she acquired. Her love of the series showed when the Charlie's Angels film was released in 2000, becoming a hit at the box office and grossing over $200 million worldwide.
Barrymore's dedication to the film's vision began early on, back when she and her producing partner, Nancy Juvonen, were preparing to meet with Sony Pictures. Speaking with Elle in 2016, Barrymore detailed the process of putting together her pitch that ultimately won the studio over: "I put together a reel of films, like smashed up, and I had to do it VCR-to-VCR, so I hooked up two VCRs together and again, I'm a girl and I'm a Pisces, this is just a disaster, it was like cords everywhere, "she explained. "[But] I pulled about 200 different films [from my personal library] that I thought had scenes in them that...could show the studio what kind of tone I saw for this film."
Their Chemistry Remains Unmatched
When a television series or film features multiple leads, it is important to ensure everyone gets along. Chemistry tests are performed in Hollywood to ensure a cohesive work environment for the actors, as well as a believable onscreen connection for the audience. In the case of Charlie's Angels, a chemistry test was only half the battle of finding the film's trio of leading ladies. Barrymore and Diaz had been friends since they were teenagers, so there was just an informal phone call between them to get Diaz on board. "Drew called me up and said, 'I'm doing Charlie's Angels and you have to do it with me.' She said, 'It will be girls jumping out of helicopters, driving fast boats, doing kung fu and wearing tons of hot clothes.' I said, 'Sign me up,'" Diaz told The Morning Call.
Finding the film's third leading lady wasn't quite as easy, though Barrymore and Diaz knew Lucy Liu was the one. Actresses such as Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, and Salma Hayek were reportedly considered for the role of Alex, but the chemistry between the three women was missing — until Liu walked into the room. Barrymore has stated that when she met Liu, "I knew I found my sister." Of course, it helped tremendously that the women became close off-screen, especially when it came to filming Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, the 2003 sequel to the first hit film. Over 20 years later, the three actresses still remain friends to this day. The women most recently reunited during the very first episode of Drew Barrymore's talk show in 2020, celebrating their years of friendship.
Legacy Sequels Are All the Rage
From Scream to Top Gun, franchise sequels that feature a mix of old and new characters are super popular in Hollywood right now. These legacy sequels reap the benefits of nostalgia along with introducing new characters and storylines to existing worlds. When done correctly, this new manner of storytelling can lead to big box office success. Sony tried rebooting the franchise with Charlie's Angels in 2019 with an all-new set of Angels that included Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska, but the film received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office. While the actresses did a fine job in their roles, the film did miss a bit of the heart and soul of the original film franchise.
This could've easily been remedied had previous incarnations of the Angels been incorporated, especially given the film's climax in which Angels from all over the world showed up to save the day. While the film did feature a cameo from original Charlie's Angels cast member Jaclyn Smith, it had little more to do with the legacy of the actual franchise. Having a new generation of Angels be trained and mentored by the likes of Barrymore, Diaz, and Liu would be an amazing way to revitalize the franchise while also paying homage to the films that came before it.
The Angels and the Director Are In Favor of a Third Movie
Talks of a new Charlie's Angels film have been swirling for quite some time, especially given the loyal fan base that Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz formed after their time as Angels. Now, hopes of fans have further increased with McG, the director behind the 2000 adaptation of Charlie's Angels, expressing that he is open to return for yet another movie starring Barrymore, Liu, and Diaz. The director claimed that he would be quite happy to be involved in a third film starring the dynamic trio, but also said he is simultaneously willing to pass the torch and pave the way for a new group of Angels. McG spoke to Entertainment Weekly in August 2023, expressing his love for the three actresses and his willingness to discuss the possibility of a reboot.
"Who knows? Maybe we've got one left in us that tells a very compelling story if the opportunity presents itself. I love the three of them so much. They put me on the map. They looked out for me when I was a first-time filmmaker. I was very nearly fired off that film on many, many occasions, and Drew stood up for me and I'm forever indebted to her. And obviously, those are three performers where God broke the mold. They don't make 'em like that. I mean, those are three special ones."
It is not only McG who is ready to return for a third film. Barrymore and Liu have also expressed their willingness to return for another film. The actresses have remained friends since the first Charlie's Angels film in 2000 starring Barrymore, Diaz, and Liu. Both Barrymore and Liu have expressed her interest in returning for a film if the opportunity arose. When questioned last year regarding the possibility of a third film, Barrymore said, "I would. I would in a heartbeat. The answer is an emphatic yes. I will always say yes." Liu, speaking at the Shazam! Fury of the Gods premiere early this year, said, "...I mean, of course, we love each other. So any opportunity to work together would be fun...". She also added that the audience wanting to see women banding together and being powerful was a positive factor for a new Charlie's Angels film.
With the actresses and director on board to work on a new Charlie's Angels film, put together with Drew Barrymore's love for the franchise, the chemistry between the three actresses and the possibility of having the new movie be a legacy sequel there seems to be enough reason for another Charlie's Angel film to come to screens. However, a new film hasn't been confirmed at the time of writing, and a third movie remains simply a possibility, albeit with quite a few factors in favor of its production.