Witches Of Eastwick Remake - What We Know So Far

There seems to be no shortage of witch-themed movie remakes and sequels these days. In the last few years, audiences have been treated to updated versions of "Suspiria," "The Craft," and "The Witches." Oh, and we also have that "Hocus Pocus" sequel to look forward to in the near future. Seriously, if you're in the mood for cinematic yarn involving one or more women with magical abilities, there's no time like the present to indulge. And very soon, this witchy movie trend will add one more title to its list: A feature-length remake of "The Witches of Eastwick."

This week, noted horror outlet Bloody Disgusting picked up a report from Screen Daily announcing Warner Bros. is setting up a remake of 1987's "The Witches of Eastwick." Per the latter outlet, a deal for the remake (or, possibly, a new adaptation of John Updike's 1984 novel of the same name from which the 1987 movie was adapted) was signed in mid-August. With the wheels in motion on the project, Warner Bros. has locked in Swedish director Ninja Thyberg to helm the remake as well as write the script. Thyberg is a filmmaker on the rise, so this is a plum opportunity to cement herself as a creative force. Her new movie, "Pleasure," is grabbing the attention of many a critic on the festival circuit right now, if Variety's review is any indicator.

Here's what else we know right now about the upcoming Warner Bros. remake of "The Witches of Eastwick." 

With "The Witches of Eastwick" still in the earliest days of production, Warner Bros. has yet to set an official release date. Screen Daily's exclusive report on the remake also notes that filming dates have yet to be determined. With so little information available, there's only room to guess when Warner Bros. will set this "Witches of Eastwick" remake for release. 

Generally speaking, if a script comes together by the end of 2021 or early 2022, then casting, pre-production, and filming could happen through the end of 2022. At the earliest, "The Witches of Eastwick" could secure a 2023 release date. The release date could also be tied into the goals Warner Bros. set for the movie. If the studio wishes to position the movie as a big summer release (as it did with the 1987 original) or perhaps as a Halloween-themed premiere, then we could see a release date set for either of those moviegoing seasons.

Sadly, no casting news accompanied the announcement of the "Witches of Eastwick" remake. However, this project will offer up the opportunity to make intriguing casting choices as Warner Bros. hunts for its three titular witches as well as the charming, yet nefarious Daryl Van Horne. These roles could be offered to established A-listers to both sell the movie and draw in crowds, or they could be offered to younger rising stars as a means of breaking out new talent. 

George Miller's 1987 adaptation of "The Witches of Eastwick" is the perfect example of the exciting results you get when you cast four major stars in the lead roles. The original "Witches of Eastwick" starred Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne, the mysterious newcomer to Eastwick whose devilish charm — and a hefty dose of magic — reignites the lives of lonely women Jane, Alexandra, and Sukie, who were respectively played by Susan Sarandon, Cher, and Michelle Pfeiffer. 

The short-lived 2009 ABC television adaptation "Eastwick" opted to mix it up with its casting. "X-Men" star Rebecca Romijn was the biggest name amongst the cast, with familiar faces from TV including Jon Bernthal ("The Punisher"), Ashley Benson ("Pretty Little Liars"), Lindsay Price ("NCIS"), Jaime Ray Newman ("Catch Me If You Can"), and Paul Gross ("Alias Grace") rounding out the cast. 

Although no official plot details for "The Witches of Eastwick" remake have been revealed, we can expect the plot of Updike's book of the same name to serve as a foundational text. Admittedly, we don't know to what degree the remake will adapt from the book (not to mention Miller's 1987 movie) and what will be updated in order to refresh the "Witches of Eastwick" tale for modern audiences. As you'll see from the Goodreads synopsis of Updike's "The Witches of Eastwick, there's plenty of intriguing plot to work with, especially when it comes to the book's magical elements.

According to its Goodreads synopsis, "The Witches of Eastwick" novel takes place in a Rhode Island town in the mid-1970s. There, three divorcées — Alexandra, Jane, and Sukie — all suddenly discover they have access to magical powers. The synopsis reveals that "Alexandra, a sculptor, summons thunderstorms; Jane, a cellist, floats on the air; and Sukie, the local gossip columnist, turns milk into cream," and goes on to tease that "their happy little coven takes on new, malignant life when a dark and moneyed stranger, Darryl [sic] Van Horne, refurbishes the long-derelict Lenox mansion and invites them in to play. Thenceforth scandal flits through the darkening, crooked streets of Eastwick and through the even darker fantasies of the town's collective psyche."

With news of "The Witches of Eastwick" remake now public, we should be hearing more details about the movie's plot, casting, and release date in the coming months. George Miller's "The Witches of Eastwick" is currently available to stream on HBO Max.