It's no secret that we're living in the age of the reboot. Some remakes are good, some are bad, some are...Ghostbusters. Yet even the most jaded of viewers should be excited about 2019's fresh take on Charlie's Angels. Yes, there are still months to go until it hits cinemas, but the information released about the film so far is thrilling. As the trailer finally drops, see below for every noteworthy detail about the action comedy to date.
Is there a trailer for the Charlie's Angels film?
Yes, and it's filled with kitschy girl power moments – as well as revealing some key details about the plot. Naomi Scott plays Elena, a programmer who “can’t sleep at night” while working on a product that could either “revolutionise” the power industry or be weaponised with disastrous results. Cue her induction into the Angels sisterhood, featuring Kristen Stewart as Sabina, who “runs the ground game”, and Ella Balinska, former M-I6 agent and all-around badass. (Fans of the 2000 blockbuster will be pleased to note a few references to Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore's time at the Townsend Agency, from skydiving to a coordinated dance number worthy of Sir Mix-A-Lot.) Also featured in the trailer: the best on-screen fantasy wardrobe since Clueless and a clip of 2019’s answer to Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Women”: “Don’t Call Me Angel” by Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and Lana del Rey.
Who is directing the Charlie's Angels film?
The endlessly brilliant Elizabeth Banks has directed the film - not to mention producing it via her own company Brownstone Productions, which she cofounded with her husband, Max Handelman. The Hunger Games and Power Rangers star told The Hollywood Reporter that she became attached to the project almost by chance: "It was mentioned to me in passing at a meeting at Sony, like, 'Hey, we'd love you to do something with Charlie's Angels.' I went home and, as a lot of creative people will say, I dreamed about it. It has to stay with you, you have to visualize it, you have to have some seeds of ideas. I felt like I had a take, so I went back in and pitched it, and they really liked it."
The 44-year-old has previously been refreshingly vocal about gender inequality in Hollywood both on screen and off, and the reboot will have a powerful feminist message to it. "Charlie’s Angels, for me, is one of the original brands to celebrate the empowered woman since its debut in the 1970s," Banks said in a statement when the film was announced. "This film honors the legacy of Charles Townsend and his agency while introducing a new era of modern and global angels. I couldn’t be more excited to work with Kristen, Naomi, and Ella to bring this chapter to fans around the world."
Who has been cast in the Charlie's Angels film?
This year’s breakout British talents Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska star alongside Kristen Stewart. Noah Centineo, known for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and the Hunger Games’ Sam Claflin will also both appear. Most intriguingly, there are now three versions of the character Bosley - the intermediary between the girls and Charlie. The role was played by David Doyle in the television series and Bill Murray in the original films. Banks herself will star as one Bosley, with Djimon Hounsou and Patrick Stewart appearing as the others.
What is the plot of the Charlie's Angels film?
The film is, of course, a remake of the classic 1970s programme, about a trio of beautiful private investigators working for a detective agency based in Los Angeles. Their occasionally dictatorial boss? The mysterious Charlie Townsend (John Forsythe), who is never actually seen on camera. Yet, Banks’ version of the story will have a lot more in common with the early 2000s reboot of the franchise, which famously saw Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu form the ultimate girl power trio and generally kick ass to a soundtrack by Destiny’s Child.
The stars have only revealed a few key details about the plot so far. "You don’t see much about their personal lives or who they’re dating," Scott revealed in her cover interview for Vogue’s April 2019 issue. "It’s about the agency going global, getting into intelligence and tech, whistleblowing. You don’t see bikini shots of their bums." Stewart echoed that sentiment in a chat with Variety. "It’s kind of like a 'woke' version...There’s a kitsch nature to the last ones that was super fun. But nowadays, if you see a woman in combat, everything should be completely and utterly within their ability."
It’s also been confirmed that the Townsend Agency is now a global enterprise - with a whole network of angels across the globe who are "connected and helping each other". According to an Instagram of some futuristic business cards posted by Scott, it has offices in Beijing, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Nairobi, and Sao Paulo. Balinska also gave a sneak peak of what is presumably operation headquarters - a modern glass skyscraper with breath-taking views (most likely the real-life Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg).
When will the Charlie's Angels film be released?
Shooting began last September and wrapped before the end of 2019, with Banks posting an emotional farewell to the cast on Instagram. Notably, she scouted and chose the filming locations herself. Much of the action was shot in Germany and Turkey - including the Baroque Moritzburg Castle in Saxony and the 18th-century Veliefendi Hippodrome in Istanbul. (Watch out, James Bond.) The film is due in cinemas on November 15, 2019, taking the slot vacated by Wonder Woman 1984 when its release date was pushed to 2020.
Read more: Naomi Scott: A Very Modern Princess
Read more: 15 Charlie's Angels Flashbacks To Get You Ready For The Reboot
