Movies
ABC Orders ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ Pilot
The random things that happen in my life always blows my mind. Just last week I took a trip back to Eastwick, while today it was announced that ABC has ordered a pilot for a new TV series based on the ’80s film starring Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon, Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer. Read on for the skinny and plans for the next project on their latest trip into town.
“The Witches of Eastwick” is casting a new spell at ABC.
The Alphabet web gave a put pilot order to a new version of the supernatural tale, to be penned by Maggie Friedman (“Dawson’s Creek”). The new “Witches” is said to be a variation on the 1987 feature of the same name.
The movie, which starred Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer, was based on the John Updike novel about three women who turn to witchcraft after losing (or booting) the men in their lives. They conjure up a devil-like character, who then proceeds to seduce all three of them.
Warner Bros. TV has been looking to create a smallscreen version of the franchise for years. In 1992, scribes Carlton Cuse and Jeffrey Boam were behind a “Witches of Eastwick” pilot for NBC. That version starred Catherine Mary Stewart, Julia Campbell, Ally Walker and Michael Siberri.
Fox developed a different version, also with Warner Bros. TV, in 2002. The abbreviated-titled “Eastwick,” from exec producer Jim Leonard and scribes Jon Cowan and Robert Rovner, focused on the teenage sons of the original witches. Lori Loughlin, Marcia Cross and Kelly Rutherford starred.
“The Witches of Eastwick” was also adapted into a musical, first in the U.K. by Cameron Mackintosh, and last year in the U.S. at the Signature Theater in Arlington, Va. The lyrics and book were adapted by John Dempsey, with music by Dana Rowe.
Released in 1987, the feature “Witches of Eastwick” ultimately grossed $64 million.
As for Friedman, the scribe has experience spinning sorcery tales. She developed the pilot “Spellbound,” about a life coach who was also a witch, for the CW and Warner Bros. TV in 2007.
Friedman’s credits also include “Related,” “Jack and Bobby” and “Once and Again.”
The bar wasn’t very high to clear, but Lionsgate’s The Strangers: Chapter 1 did manage to break a box office record here in 2024, achieving the highest opening weekend at the domestic box office out of any horror movie released this year… so far. This despite largely negative reviews, once again proving that the horror genre is as review-proof as it comes.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 debuted with $11.83M at the domestic box office in 2,856 locations, just barely topping Blumhouse’s Night Swim to rip the crown off the top of its head.
Here’s the full lineup of domestic opening weekends for horror this year…
- The Strangers: Chapter 1 – $11.8 million
- Night Swim – $11.7 million
- Abigail – $10.2 million
- Imaginary – $9.9 million
- The First Omen – $8.3 million
- Tarot – $6.5 million
- Immaculate – $5.3 million
- Lisa Frankenstein – $3.6 million
For further context and comparison, 2018’s The Strangers: Prey at Night opened to $10.4 million before making $31 million worldwide, a number Chapter 1 may eventually reach.
The good news for Lionsgate is that the production budget for The Strangers: Chapter 1 was a reported $8.5 million, so there’s a good chance this one will soon be profitable. But is it enough to justify theatrical releases for both Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, which will continue Chapter 1‘s storyline and have already been filmed? Or will Lionsgate pivot to a streaming release?
These are the questions we can’t help but ponder today. Stay tuned for more.
Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”), Froy Gutierrez (Hocus Pocus 2), Rachel Shenton (The Silent Child), Ema Horvath (“Rings of Power”) and Gabe Basso (Hillbilly Elegy) star.
Here’s the full official synopsis: “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.”
Renny Harlin directed The Strangers: Chapter 1.
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