We Almost Saw The Beginning Of A Charmed Multiverse In Season 5
The Power of Three, unfortunately, did not set us free. After four seasons of sisterhood and demon battles, CW's "Charmed" reboot had a date with the chopping block. "Charmed" was certainly not the only series to get the ax, as many landmark shows were surprisingly canceled with no hope for resurrection (per TV Line). However, the "Charmed" cancellation is overcast by a strange legacy due to feuding between original and current cast members.
To say that the cast of the original "Charmed" has mixed feelings about the reboot would be an understatement. Holly Marie Combs, who played Piper Halliwell in the original series, famously criticized the reboot. Taking issue with marketing, Combs stated that the new series was ageist as they did not include original cast members (via Entertainment Weekly). Since this outburst, actor Sarah Jeffrey fired back on her personal Twitter.
"I truly hope they find happiness elsewhere, and not in the form of putting down other WOC," Jeffrey posted. Clearly, there is a lack of women supporting each other, which goes against the theme of both series. But even in light of the competition, the "Charmed" reboot seemed open to honoring the original series. Had there been a Season 5, the show would have included past canon into their universe in an interesting way.
Halliwell manor makes in appearance in the series
In the series finale of "Charmed," Mel, Maggie, and Kaela's journey end after they find themselves in a portal to another universe. Though they aren't aware of it, fans of the original series immediately recognize the doorstep on which the Vera-Danso clan lands. The Halliwell Manor was the iconic home base for The Charmed Ones in the original series and was meant to signal a new chapter for the reboot. The multiverse is a well-known concept in the MCU and would have made its "Charmed" debut had there been a fifth season.
"There were going to be phone calls made about which cast members are available and who's willing to do it," executive producer Joey Falco explained to TV Line about including actors from the previous "Charmed" iteration. "We had a very flexible plan based on [those logistics], but we never had those conversations because we weren't going to have them until we got a pick-up. So we'll never know who may or may not have made an appearance."
Mel, Maggie, and Kaela arriving at the Halliwell's house confirm that the two covens are not in the same universe. The Charmed Ones can be different in any universe, which allows the "Charmed" reboot to be more flexible with their lore. Had they been picked up, creatives hoped to involve original cast members. But when the finale aired, it became apparent that it was a pipedream.
The Charmed feud continues
When the final episode of "Charmed" aired, it became clear that some feuds were too insurmountable. Instead of unifying the two series, all the finale did was further alienate the original "Charmed" production. With the inclusion of a multiverse, some took issue with how this disrespected the original. A bitter Twitter war erupted between a writer from the first "Charmed" series, Curtis Kheel, and the creatives of the reboot. Offended that the reboot used the original house, Kheel immediately shut down any idea of sisterly love between the two covens.
"As an original #Charmed writer, I can tell [you] what happened next: Piper, Phoebe & Paige vanquished the 3 imposters right after they invaded Halliwell Manor," Kheel posted. The writer continued to stir the pot with a long thread about all the crimes that the reboot had perpetrated, suggesting that the writers only included the Manor as a last-ditch effort to save the series. The "Charmed" writers fired back, insisting they appreciated both shows.
"[F]or the record, we LOVE both versions, which is why we set out to create a cohesive universe. In our minds, there is zero competition in a long line of strong young witches tasked with repeatedly saving the world," the Charmed Writers wrote. Though the Halliwell sisters always supported love and understanding, it doesn't look like these two covens will be having dinner parties any time soon.