Bewitched, the ABC fantasy sitcom that aired from 1964 to 1972, was famously remade as a feature film in 2005, with a few members of the original cast returning. When beautiful witch Samantha marries mortal man Darrin, she has to live her life in secret as a suburban housewife. The 2005 film is a meta re-telling of the concept, following a failing actor cast in a Bewitched reboot who finds his co-star is in fact a witch, rather than a reboot continuation of the character’s stories. Although the original characters didn’t return to the screen, in June 2023 Sony confirmed plans for an animated series following Samantha and Darrin’s daughter Tabitha as a teenager.
When the show first started, it was highly popular, but over the years with the reduction in viewing numbers, ABC decided to cancel Bewitched by not renewing its contract. The original cast continued their careers and remained as household names throughout the ’70s and ’80s. Despite the film remake being released thirty-three years after the end of the original show, as well as the film not being set in the same universe as the show, some of the original characters did make a reappearance.
Carole Shelley As Aunt Clara
Aunt Clara is Samantha’s often confused, elderly relative. She is also the only relation of Samantha’s that has a good relationship with her husband Darrin, and despite her meaning well, often ends up causing damage around her with spells gone wrong. Aunt Clara returns in the 2005 film, played by Wicked legend Carole Shelley, and is visited by Isabel (the witch who plays the role of Samantha). Clara helps Isabel create a love potion for Jack (the actor playing Darrin), as revenge for casting her without any lines.
Steve Carell As Uncle Arthur
Best known for the iconic role of Michael Scott in The Office Steve Carell plays Uncle Arthur. During the original sitcom, Uncle Arthur was the ultimate prankster and had a very close relationship with Samantha. When the character is brought back in the film, Uncle Arthur visits Jack during a daydream and tries to encourage him to not let Isabel leave the show, after reacting badly to her being a witch and sending her flying into the night.
Amy Sedaris As Gladys Kravitz
Gladys Kravitz was Samantha and Darrin’s neighbor, living opposite their home and poking her nose in their business whenever the opportunity arose. Although not a major character in the show, the character’s name was, and still is, often used in society as a label for a busybody. In the 2005 Bewitched film, the role was reprised by Amy Sedaris, who is best known for her work in Strangers With Candy and BoJack Horseman, and also starred in the prequel film that was released in the same year.
Richard Kind As Abner Kravitz
Gladys’ long-suffering husband Abner, who doesn’t believe his wife’s stories about the witch living on their street. There are multiple occasions when Gladys tries to desperately prove it to him, but by the time he reaches their window, the mysterious behavior was nowhere to be seen, leaving him slightly concerned about her state of mind. In the film, Richard Kind was cast in the role of Abner Kravitz, and at the time was best known for playing Andy in the HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Shirley MacLaine As Iris Smythson / Endora
The character of Endora also returned for the Bewitched movie, first appearing on-screen as actress Iris Smythson. The character is played by Shirley MacLaine, the Broadway legend who won an Oscar for her performance as Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment in 1983.
In the original series, Endora was Samantha’s mother, and had a difficult relationship with Darrin, disapproving of her son-in-law and finding him dull. In the film, Iris is just a co-star of Isabel’s, however, Isabel’s father Nigel develops an infatuation with her. Towards the end of the film, her relationship with Nigel leads to her revealing she is a witch too, after casting a spell on some girls Nigel flirts with at a party.
