Kait Mae

Netflix’s Fate: The Winx Saga took a beloved animated series and made some bold, often controversial changes. While the show aimed to capture the essence of the original Winx Club, many fans felt it strayed too far from its magical roots. From staying true to the core of the beloved characters to infusing the storyline with the right mix of fantasy and drama, this is how I would have done Fate justice, honoring the spirit of the original while bringing fresh magic to the screen.

What Made ‘Winx Club’ So Great?

I remember watching the show for the first time – Saturday mornings on 4Kids and then throughout the week once Nickelodeon got it. And from the very first episode, I was hooked at the young age of 6. Granted, 4Kids did change the plot a lot – but the vibes were the same.

Winx Club was amazing because the characters were amazing, and they were all strong in different ways. It showed that friendship was just as important as self-love. It was also so fashion-forward while the plot didn’t focus on that.

It blended the good-versus-evil themes with bright colors. It was the first time so many people saw fantasy elements like fairies mixed with science-fiction-inspired technology – and I still look to it for inspiration in almost everything. That’s why I loved it – and probably why so many others loved it, too.

Where Did ‘Fate’ Fall Flat?

It first fell flat by being called a “live-action adaptation.” I understand they wanted to go darker and more mature like so many teen shows nowadays – but that’s not Winx Club.

They stripped Winx Club of what made it so iconic – where are the vibrant colors? Where is the fashion? Where are the wings?

They changed so much that made Winx Club so loveable and turned it into a CW show, if I’m being honest. And why were Bloom and Stella pitted against each other from the start? It was outrageous.

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My Hopes for the New Show

Just after I started planning how I would have done a live-action adaptation, it was announced that Winx Club was being rebooted and redone.

After the teaser trailers and photos were released, I will say I’m cautiously optimistic. I honestly doubt it will capture the magic of the original, but I think I will enjoy it nonetheless.

My only requirements for this show are that it is bright and vibrant, is about friendship, and we get the fairy wings – which it looks like it will have all of that. And one last question, is Roxy going to be in it? Please let her be in it.

What I Would Do Instead

First and foremost, I would actually adapt the storylines of the animated show. Would I follow them exactly? No, I’d want to add side stories that build characters and their backstories – but I would follow the main plots of each season.

In that vein, I’d want to find a way to take the original show’s dialogue and make sure it still resonates with kids and teens today. There would obviously need some revamping to update it, but I’d want to keep the same kind of dialogue.

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As for costuming, I’d want to hire Alana Morshead. After seeing the costuming in Do Revenge, I knew I wanted someone who knew how to bring vibrant colors and modern aesthetics together flawlessly. I genuinely think she’d do amazing with a project like this.

While I’m on the topic of Do Revenge, I’d also want to use Hillary Gurtler’s production design expertise to create the schools and world of Alfea. She was the production designer for Do Revenge, and I think she and Alana just worked perfectly together from a viewer’s standpoint.

My Winx Girls

I decided to only cast the girls for the show because – and no offense – they’re the more important parts of this story. (It is a magical girl show, after all.) And I’m sorry to some of the Fate cast, but I will be picking an all-new cast so there won’t be any overlap.

For Bloom, I think Sadie Stanley would be perfect. While she is a bit older than Bloom was in the show, she still has that youthful look to her and has proven to handle a range of roles.

As for Bloom’s best friend and Princess of Solaria, I’d cast Gracie Dzienny as Stella. While she’s nearly 30, she still looks like a teenager. And after her role in Supah Ninjas years ago, I genuinely think she’d handle the action scenes off perfectly.

Moving on to Flora, one of my favorites. I genuinely loved Paulina in the role, but since I’m looking for a new cast, I have to recast. And to do that, I’m going with Cree Cicchino. She hasn’t taken on a softer character yet, so I think this would be the perfect opportunity for her.

Up next, Musa – a character I loved immensely as a child. I was so disappointed in the Fate adaptation of this character, so I needed to do it so much justice. I chose Maria Zhang after seeing her in Avatar: The Last Airbender because she was amazing in that, and though I don’t know if she can sing, I think she just exudes Musa’s energy.

Up next is Tecna, the last of the original group that was missing entirely in Fate, I cast Caitlin Carmichael. I don’t know what it is about her, but when I saw her in Dwight in Shining Armor, I just felt that she’d be perfect as Tecna.

Moving on, we have Aisha – who I loved being included from the start of Fate. I chose Arista Arhin. Though I personally haven’t seen her projects since Odd Squad, I think she’d do well.

As for the honorary Winx girl, we have Roxy – who I’m casting solely because I love the character so much. For her, I chose Abby Donnelly. She looks a little younger than the rest of the cast, which I feel will set her apart perfectly in the cast when the character comes around.

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Casting My Trix

Just for fun, I’m also casting the Trix. And just a reminder – they are not sisters, so I decided to go with actresses that I feel could portray the characters well and don’t necessarily look alike.

First up, Icy. For her, I already knew we’d need a white wig, so it was more about finding someone who could do “ice.” And I think Landry Bender, who I last saw in Fuller House, would be absolutely phenomenal as this witch.

Up next, Darcy. I decided to choose Izabella Alvarez as this witch because I haven’t seen her in a role like this before, and I think she’d kill it.

And lastly, Stormy. Rounding out the Trix, I chose Chandler Kinney. I genuinely think she’d handle the role perfectly after her extensive range across her projects.

Who would you cast? Should I cast the guys? I really have high hopes for the reboot, what about you? Let me know in the comment section.