'Fantasy Island' reboot twists: Wishes change and a Roarke remains, but it's Tattoo-free

It's not Mr. Roarke's "Fantasy Island," although Fox's reboot honors his legacy.

The latest reimagining of producer Aaron Spelling's hit 1970s ABC anthology drama, which stars Roselyn Sanchez ("Devious Maids," "Without a Trace"), closely resembles its namesake. But the new version (premiering Tuesday, 9 EDT/PDT) offers some twists to keep up with the times.

In both series, vacationers arriving in a tropical paradise – played by a cavalcade of familiar guest stars – are greeted by the island's steward, who channels the island's supernatural powers to help grant impossible wishes.

Many of the new edition's changes pay homage to the original, which featured Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke. (The 1977-84 series, and a short-lived 1998 Fox remake are streaming on Tubi, and inspired a 2020 Jason Blum horror movie.)

Here's a look at how Fox's "Fantasy Island" compares with the ABC series:

Family ties: A Roarke connection

A woman stars in the new "Fantasy Island," and two more (Liz Craft and Sarah Fain) are its executive producers. That original star Montalban, who died in 2009, was of Mexican heritage was an even rarer occurrence in the '70s than today.

Elena Roarke (Sanchez) is the grandniece of Mr. Roarke, the imposing figure who made guests' wishes come true. But she's much more emotionally expressive, revealing details of a past romance to her assistant and moved to tears by a guest's story. There's sexual tension with the seaplane pilot Javier (John Gabriel Rodriquez), too. Viewers didn't even know Mr. Roarke's first name, let alone his internal feelings.

The imposing Mr. Roarke conveyed a hint of menace, a wry, "be careful what you wish for" head shake to vacationers wishing for the wrong things. One would expect nothing less from an actor who portrayed the imperious Khan, the greatest "Star Trek" villain.

Elena is more empathetic than her granduncle, who was wise but a little harsher in his take on the human condition. Her sunnier "Island" countenances guests' wishes with a more comforting Rolling Stones vibe: You may want one thing, but in the end, you get what you need.

Tattoo removal: Who replaces Hervé Villechaize?

There are clear connections between the "Island" overseers, but there's little similarity between their assistants.

Gone is Mr. Roarke's sidekick Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize), who provided comic relief that softened the series' darker edges. Villechaize, an actor with dwarfism, played an assistant to a James Bond villain (1974's "The Man with the Golden Gun") but became a star on "Island." (He died in 1993.)

Tattoo signaled the arrival of each week's guests by rushing to the top of a tower to ring a bell and shout his iconic catchphrase, "The plane! The plane!" That's gone, too.

Elena Roarke's assistant, Ruby (Kiara Barnes), is a woman who arrives on the island with a terminal illness but, via magical powers and Elena's empathy, regains health and youth. That's not out of line with the original, which hinted that Mr. Roarke was hundreds of years old.

They're still wearing white to greet guests

The new "Island" frequently references its forebearer, starting with opening credits that reveal a lush setting – it's filmed on location in Puerto Rico – and modern theme music inspired by the original's melody.

Elena, like her older relative, dresses in white, sometimes in a suit complete with a tailored vest. Ruby wears white, too, as did Tattoo.

Guests still arrive via seaplane, but also helicopter and parachute. Elena drives to meet guests in a red Jeep, an updated tribute to Mr. Roarke's quirky topless/doorless red station wagon with the red-and-white-striped canvas top.

Elena preserves his signature staff instruction – "Smiles, everyone! Smiles!" – and delivers the simple but memorable greeting, "Welcome to Fantasy Island!" Unfortunately, Elena's question to each guest – "What can the island do for you?" – sounds too much like a UPS slogan.

The first series cast many stars from other ABC shows ("Hey, there's Potsie!"). That's replicated by the Fox edition, which features guest turns by Bellamy Young (from the canceled "Prodigal Son"), Leslie Jordan ("Call Me Kat") and a "Melrose Place" reunion of Josie Bissett, Laura Leighton and Daphne Zuniga.

Episodes are still divided into two main stories, although some plotlines are more contemporary: Tuesday's premiere features a morning news anchor (Young) who wishes to eat as much as she wants without gaining weight after a lifetime of self-denial. And an older man learns his wife was in a romantic relationship with a woman before she married him.

It's a different "Island" world, designed for a different Roarke.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Fantasy Island': Roselyn Sanchez is the new Roarke in Fox remake