First trailer released for new Charlie’s Angels reboot

The first trailer for the Charlie’s Angels reboot has dropped — but fans of the noughties films say it’s a “big step backwards”. Here’s why.

Charlie’s Angels are back — and they appear to be as badass as ever.

The latest reboot of the iconic 1970s detective series starring Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith marks the second time actress Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) does double-duty, following her feature directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015.

Elizabeth Banks (middle) plays Bosley, with Ella Balinska (left) and Kristen Stewart as two of the Angels.

However, fans of the previous films in the franchise — Charlie’s Angels in 2000 and its sequel, 2003’s Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle — are today voicing their displeasure at an element that’s been added to the reboot: Guns.

In those two noughties films, the Angels — played by Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu — didn’t use guns, instead relying on their smarts and a bit of kung-fu to defeat the bad guys. Cut to 2019, and the Angels are seen firing a variety of high-powered weapons in the trailer for the new film. The change hasn’t gone unnoticed:

listen there’s nothing but good things to say about Charlie’s Angels but THEY DIDNT USE GUNS IN THE FIRST ONE🗣🗣🗣

— Jaime Rodríguez (@_jaerod) June 27, 2019

MY charlie's angels don't use guns pic.twitter.com/0TMBqnuYvu

— hunter (@moviepassdied) June 27, 2019

Guess they chucked the Drew Barrymore version's "no guns" rule away for the new Charlie's Angels movie.

— Jackalope (@_Jackalope_) June 27, 2019

Remember when Charlie's Angels didn't use guns? That was a cool and smart decision. Going back to guns seems like a step backwards.

— Ronaldo Trancoso Jr (@ronaldotrancoso) June 27, 2019

I ... think? the new Charlie’s Angels film looks good. I wish they’d kept the no guns rule form the CamDrewLu films

— Jake Curran-Pipe (@JakeCP) June 27, 2019

I ain't mad at it. Though it'll be weird to see a version of Charlie's Angels where they are using guns. https://t.co/oxrir2TkRP

— Sarah Musnicky (@sarahmusnicky) June 27, 2019

#PSA Ladies, this is the Charlie’s Angels pose. Note how only one of them has a gun. pic.twitter.com/gb0Y3eLGpL

— Vaughn Fry (@VaughnFry) June 25, 2019

Disappointed that the new "Charlie's Angels" seem so gun-crazy. One thing I liked about the 00s Angels was their preference for karate poses. pic.twitter.com/ntKJHVSJPu

— kareem yasin (@thekareem) June 27, 2019

In the 2019 version of Charlie’s Angels, which Banks also co-wrote and produced, she plays Bosley — the Angels’ point of contact for the unseeable Charles “Charlie” Townsend. The part of Bosley was originated by David Doyle for the original series run from 1976 to 1981 and recreated by Bill Murray in the 2000 revamp starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu.

This time around, the Angels are played by Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Naomi Scott (Aladdin) and British newcomer Ella Balinska who set off on a globetrotting adventure to protect the creators of a new technological advancement that could revolutionise the energy industry — but is also highly useful to the world’s criminal syndicates.

The women are seen in a variety of disguises.

Stewart takes down the bad guys.

British newcomer Ella Balinska also kicks some butt.

The raucous trailer is filled with everything you’d expect from an Angels flick — luxurious locations, hi-tech weaponry, combat acrobatics and, of course, gorgeous girls in short skirts — set to a thumping new track by music industry femme fatales Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Banks says having a woman at the helm of a film about kick-ass women was crucial.

“It was important to me to make a movie about women working together and supporting each other, and not make a movie about their romantic entanglements or their mother they don’t call enough. When I’m at work, I don’t talk about those things. I get on with my job,” she says. “It felt important to do that for the Angels, to treat them with the respect their skill set demands.”

Banks also directed the movie.

Charlie’s Angels hits theatres this November.

This story originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as First trailer released for new Charlie’s Angels reboot