When the trailer for the latest Charlie’s Angels movie dropped on June 27, it was clear that director/producer Elizabeth Banks and producer Elizabeth Cantillon wanted this movie to appeal to a wide array of audiences.
The trailer begins with out and proud bisexual Kristen Stewart adorned in a blonde wig, seducing a high-powered man on a balcony. The scene shifts to show the other two badass leads: Ella Balinska and Naomi Scott. It is no secret that Hollywood loves to whitewash movies and feigns attempts at diversity by occasionally casting light-skinned minority actors in leading roles. The reboot has been criticized by some as doing exactly that in its casting of light-skinned British actresses Scott and Balinska, alongside Kristen Stewart. However, this new remake set to be released Nov. 15 has boasted its attempts to be more inclusive.
Banks told CinemaBlend she wanted this movie to go beyond a beach in California.
The original Charlie’s Angels series ran on ABC from 1976 to 1981 and starred Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Farah Fawcett — three white women who used skill and sex appeal to fight off evil. In 2000, the remake cast Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz as the three leading ladies. These three beloved actresses remained in California throughout the duration of the film, and while their talent for crime fighting was unmatched, there were no global operations. This year’s reboot shows the angels taking their mission international. Set 40 years after the last Charlie’s Angels, the Townsend Agency has now expanded to include a network of spies all over the world. Banks has been vocal about ensuring that the leads in the film are seen as intelligent, and is steering away from plot points in the original series that depict the angels sleeping with the enemy to get ahead.
Another buzz of excitement surrounding this film: the accompanying soundtrack. Co-executive produced by Ariana Grande, Savan Kotecha and now infamous Scooter Braun, the soundtrack is set to be released Nov. 1. The star-studded tracks feature hits from talent in Grande’s own circle of friends including Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Victoria Monét and Normani.
Those disappointed with a lack of melanin in the film’s casting may be pleased by the voices included on the album. Along with Minaj, Monét and Normani, the soundtrack also includes Arlissa, Stefflon Don, Donna Summer, Kash Doll, Chaka Khan, Anitta and Kiana Ledé — all women of color.
Grande herself will be featured on five songs: “Bad to You” with Normani and Nicki Minaj, “Don’t Call Me Angel” with Lana Del Rey and Miley Cyrus, “How I Look on You” a solo song, “Nobody” with Chaka Khan and “Got her Own” with Victoria Monét. Grande took to Instagram on Oct. 11 to declare her excitement for producing the project, and her anticipation for fans to hear the new music.
Whether Grande’s choosing of majority African-American female talent for this album was intentional or not, there’s no denying the decision might help increase overall turnout for the movie, and create renewed interest in the film for those quick to criticize the casting. The single “Don’t Call Me Angel” featuring Grande, Cyrus and Del Rey dropped on Sept. 13 and has nearly 97 million views on YouTube. The reviews are mixed, but one thing is clear: fans are ecstatic to hear how the voices of legends like Chaka Khan will mesh with new-age singers like Grande.
This isn’t the first time Charlie’s Angels has released a soundtrack of powerhouse women of color to accompany the film. “Independent Women Part 1” by Destiny’s Child was released in 2000 as part of the soundtrack to the original movie. It has since become an iconic anthem for feminine strength, and some thought the single was better than the movie itself.
The new Charlie’s Angels movie and soundtrack are already destined to reach a wider audience than the 2000 classic. Pairing a millennial icon like Kristen Stewart with newcomer Ella Balinska and Naomi Scott, who is coming off of the heels of Aladdin praise, is sure to make waves at the box office.