Sony Pictures is developing a big screen Charlie’s Angels reboot, TheWrap reports. What’s more, they’ve got actress turned Pitch Perfect 2 helmer Elizabeth Banks in negotiations to take the reins on the franchise as the film’s director. If all goes according to plan, Banks will also produce the new film alongside her husband, Max Handelman.
The original show focused on three women who worked as a team of private investigators, receiving their orders from the mysterious Charlie Townsend (voiced by John Forsythe, but whose face was never revealed). Although the lineup changed during the course of the series, the four key headlining actresses were Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Facett, Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd.
The popular series ran for five seasons and, in 2000, launched a feature film franchise starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. That film also turned out a 2003 sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
A television Charlie’s Angels reboot was attempted in 2011 with Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, Rachael Taylor headlining. Airing on ABC, it only lasted eight episodes.
Released by Universal Pictures earlier this year, Pitch Perfect 2 marked Banks’ feature film directorial debut. In a rare movie for a comedy sequel, the film garnered both critical acclaim and pulled in an impressive box office with over $285 million worldwide. That’s more than double the worldwide box office for the 2012 original.
As an actress, Elizabeth Banks can next be seen reprising her role as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the final chapter of Lionsgate’s massively popular young adult franchise.
A Pitch Perfect 3 has been set for release on July 21, 2017, although there is no word as of yet whether Banks will be returning in any capacity.
