More Details on the New Charlie's Angels

Entertainment Weekly has shared fresh details about ABC’s Charlie’s Angels reboot. Unlike the original 1970s series, where the team of private investigators were disgruntled graduates of the police academy, the update currently has the crime-fighters as a trio of not-so-angelic criminals. In the pilot, Charlie brings them together and offers an opportunity to redeem themselves — by working for him, of course.

One major character is still being tweaked, however, and keep in mind pilots tend to undergo plenty of changes before they air. One of the trio has been previously reported as a con artist, while another is an ex-Marine and weapons expert.

Though the recent feature films were light-hearted (and, like the new series, executive produced by Drew Barrymore), sources say the new show will be a “fairly serious, non-campy” take on the concept.

But ABC’s Angels will match the original series in at least a couple key respects… Angels will consist of self-contained episodes — a new adventure each week, rather than having a serialized storyline. (There are some serialized elements, of course, like with all shows, but it’s mainly episodic).

Also, Charlie will remain a voice in a box — no video at least, when talking to the Angels – and the story will explain why, in the age of iChat and Skype, he’s still using such low-tech communication. (81-year-old Hart to Hart star Robert Wagner is near a deal to play Charlie.)

The pilot begins shooting in March, which gives the new Angels (Minka Kelly, Rachael Taylor and Annie Ilonzeh) time for some specialized training for the physical demands of the show.

The script is being polished by executive producers Al Gough and Miles Millar, and then, like all pilots, could get tweaked more in the coming months. ABC will decide in late April or early May whether to pick it up to series for fall.

Robert Wagner is Angels' New Charlie

TV veteran Robert Wagner will replace the late John Forsythe as the voice of Charlie in a planned Charlie's Angels small screen remake.

Ironically, the Hart To Hart star owns 50 per cent of the original Angels series.

Drew Barrymore, who took the franchise to the big screen, will produce the new series. Casting is currently underway, but U.S. soap star Annie Ilonzeh is reportedly leading the race to land an angelic role.

The actress, who plays Maya Ward in General Hospital, is billed to play a martial arts expert.

Cameron Diaz Wants More Angels

Cameron Diaz is calling on movie bosses to resurrect the Charlie's Angles film franchise, because she would "love" to star in a third installment.

The Hollywood beauty teamed up with Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu to bring the 1970s TV show to the big screen in the 2000 movie of the same name and they followed it up with a sequel, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, in 2003.

Diaz now admits she wants to be given the chance to turn the series into a trilogy.

She tells E! Online, "I would love to! Of course I would. Why wouldn't I? It'd be fun!"

But Diaz fears movie bosses might want to replace the trio with a new set of 'Angels', adding, "I don't know if we'll do it. I mean, we played the movie as the new crop of Charlie's Angels and we never were trying to be (or) pretend we were the other girls (from the TV show). So it might just be time for a new crop of girls to come on."

Drew Barrymore Praises Ricky Martin for 'Coming Out'

Drew Barrymore has praised singer Ricky Martin for opening up about his sexuality - insisting his admission will help other celebrities 'come out'.

The Livin' La Vida Loca hitmaker ended years of speculation about his love life last month by revealing he's a "proud homosexual".

And the Charlie's Angels actress has applauded Martin for his honesty, as she believes his story will help other gay stars feel accepted.

She tells Access Hollywood, "My lofty goal in this world is that we can live in a world that doesn’t judge each other, I just want people to be able to live their lives that are true to them. I celebrate what (Ricky) is doing because we have to create a world for each other where acceptance is first and foremost.”

And Barrymore is not the only celebrity to back Martin - openly gay singer Adam Lambert has also voiced his support for the Latino star.

He says, "It’s great to see people like (Ricky) feeling liberated to come out and come forward, and hopefully it will open the door wide open for more and more people to be comfortable with who they are.”

Actress Sofia Vergara adds, "It shouldn’t be an issue any more, but it’s hard to change things. He’s fantastic.”

'Glee' Among GLAAD Media Awards Winners

"Glee" has another reason to be happy.

The Fox musical comedy was among the winners at the 21st annual GLAAD Media Awards. The show's cast and creator Ryan Murphy received the trophy for outstanding comedy series at Saturday's glitzy ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Murphy, in particular, praised lesbian actress Jane Lynch and gay actor Chris Colfer for their contributions.

"We have a great responsibility with the show," Murphy beamed.

Murphy told the crowd that Colfer's character, outspoken gay soprano Kurt Hummel, would have a boyfriend next season, and the pair would become prom kings. Murphy also promised the crowd that Colfer's character "would never be the victim."

"Iron Chef" Cat Cora presented actress-director Drew Barrymore with the Vanguard Award, which honors efforts to increase visibility and understanding of the gay community. In a humorous video before accepting her trophy, Barrymore listed several of her inspirational gay colleagues, including her agent, lawyer, doctor, stylists and one of her dogs.

"The thing that means the most to me about an evening like this, and why I want to fight and be outspoken about this is because there are so many people who are in desperate need of families," Barrymore said.

Constance McMillen, the lesbian Mississippi teenager who challenged her school district's ban of same-sex prom dates, presented comedian-actress Wanda Sykes with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is given by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to an openly gay member of the entertainment community for their work toward eliminating homophobia.

"I'm willing to give this award to you," Sykes teased McMillen, "but I'm not gonna do it. It means a lot to me."

Other winners included Logo's "RuPaul's Drag Race" for outstanding reality program and "A Single Man" for outstanding wide release film. "A Single Man" director Tom Ford wasn't on hand to receive his trophy. His partner Richard Buckley accepted the award on Ford's behalf because the filmmaker was stranded in London thanks to the volcanic cloud of ash.

Adam Lambert, the glam-rocking "American Idol" runner-up who raised eyebrows with his racy performance at last year's American Music Awards, capped off the ceremony hosted by transgender actress Candis Cayne and gay actor Wilson Cruz with a performance of his tunes "Music Again" and "Fever." He ended by pleading for diversity within the gay community.

The awards salute fair, accurate and inclusive representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives in the media. Other winners -- chosen from 152 nominees in 32 categories -- were awarded at a March ceremony in New York, while the remainder will be presented at a San Francisco ceremony in June.

Drew Barrymore & Wanda Sykes to be Honored with Top Gay Media Awards

Drew Barrymore and Wanda Sykes are to be the recipients of this year's top gay honors at the 21st annual GLAAD Media Awards.

Officials at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will bestow their Vanguard Award on Barrymore, while gay comedienne Wanda Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at a glitzy gala in Los Angeles on April 17th.

Barrymore's honor comes after she portrayed Robert De Niro's lesbian daughter in Everybody's Fine, which has also been nominated for Outstanding Film at the event.

She has become a big favorite of GLAAD in recent years for her activism towards gay rights and joined thousands of marriage equality advocates on the streets of West Hollywood when the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, which eliminated marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

The thrilled star says, "I was born, bred and raised among diversity, it has defined me and made me the person I am today. I'm honoured and humbled to be receiving this award."

Past recipients of The Vanguard Award include Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, Sharon Stone and Elizabeth Taylor.

Sykes' honor is annually presented to openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for the gay community

Drew Barrymore to Remake Charlie's Angels

Drew Barrymore is giving wings to Charlie's Angels - the actress is making plans to bring the hit TV series back to the small screen.

Barrymore has produced and starred in two film adaptations of the 1970s show - and now she's breathing new life into the franchise, which launched Farrah Fawcett's career, by reviving it for TV.

Barrymore is currently scouting a new trio of sexy crimefighters and insists they must be "incredibly capable, but not take themselves too seriously. That's a tough combination to find."

Meanwhile filmmaker McG, who directed Barrymore in her Angels films, will serve as consultant on the project - and is aiming to diversify the team of secret agents.

He adds, "This is a more progressive, 2010 take on the idea. We want to be even more progressive in terms of racial background."

McG has named Rihanna as his dream Angel.

ABC Closing In on a New 'Charlie's Angels'

ABC is close to giving a pilot order to a modern version of the classic 1970s TV actioner "Charlie’s Angels."

Josh Friedman, who recently adapted the "Terminator" franchise for his Fox series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," is onboard to write and executive produce the new "Charlie's Angels" series.

Also involved are original "Charlie’s Angels" producer Leonard Goldberg, who launched the series with Aaron Spelling in 1976, as well as Drew Barrymore, who starred in and produced the 2000 film version and its sequel. Sony Pictures TV is the studio.

Insiders said that ABC Entertainment Group topper Steve McPherson is particularly high on this project.

Networks of late have found that it’s frequently a challenge to take on iconic franchises — and several recent reboots, such as "Knight Rider," "Melrose Place" and "The Bionic Woman" have fallen short.

But ABC is riding high this fall with its adaptation of another such property, "V." That show bowed to boffo numbers, although it took a hit in week two.

Sony is also busy adapting another 1970s Spelling (and Goldberg-produced) property, "Fantasy Island" — but as a reality show, along with Mark Burnett. No U.S. network is attached as of yet to that project, which was announced last month at the Mipcom TV confab.

The original "Charlie’s Angels" ran from 1976-81 and was back in the news this summer following the death of original star Farrah Fawcett.

Spelling attempted a revival in 1988, sealing a deal to produce a version called "Angels 88" for Fox. That show never got off the ground, but it eventually led to Spelling’s deal to produce the original "Beverly Hills 90210" (now also enjoying a revival, via the CW).

The franchise then lay dormant until 2000, when the McG-helmed "Charlie’s Angels" feature, starring Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz, was a box office hit. Movie spawned a second edition, "Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle."

It also led to an earlier attempt at a TV series revival, in 2004. That version was written for ABC (again, through Sony) by a pre-"Lost" Carlton Cuse and John Wirth and given a script-plus-penalty order but ultimately didn’t go to pilot.

This time around, a pilot is expected to be greenlit. Friedman, Goldberg and Barrymore will executive produce with Nancy Juvonen.

Friedman’s other credits include co-writing the features "War of the Worlds" and "The Black Dahlia."

Beyond "Charlie's Angels" and "Fantasy Island," Goldberg was an executive producer on "Starsky and Hutch," "Hart to Hart" and "Family."

The new "Charlie’s Angels" is expected to be geared toward a new generation while paying homage to the past.

E.T. Returns?

Steven Spielberg and Drew Barrymore are in talks to bring legendary movie alien E.T. back to Earth in a big budget Hollywood sequel.

Twenty-seven years after a six-year-old Barrymore melted film fans' hearts playing little Gertie, a girl who befriends an extraterrestrial visitor, director Spielberg wants to reunite the pair.

According the National Enquirer, Barrymore and Spielberg have met to discuss the project, which will show E.T. returning to Earth to rejoin the now-adult Gertie.

A source tells the tabloid, "Steven and Drew are being very secretive about this baby. But they want to do this project and work together. Steven has an incredible story in mind for the sequel that will bring E.T. back to earth."

Drew Barrymore Covers W Magazine's April Issue

Drew Barrymore, 31, graces the cover of W magazine’s April 2009 issue.

The edition features 13 pics of the actress as well as a revealing interview on the subject of her mother, her ex-boyfriend and her stint in rehab as a young girl.

Check out the pics and full interview here.

Drew Barrymore to Direct Third Twilight?

Drew Barrymore knows a thing or two about extraterrestrials, so vampires shouldn't be too much of a stretch.

The E.T. actress is in talks to direct Eclipse, the third entry in the Twilight franchise.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Barrymore is among the top choices to follow in the footsteps of Catherine Hardwicke, who helmed Twilight, and Chris Weitz, who's about to start filming the first sequel, New Moon.

Hardwicke opted out of the franchise because she felt she didn't have enough breathing room to do the follow-up justice. And because of producer Summit Entertainment's tight release schedule—New Moon is set for a November 20, 2009, release and Eclipse just six months later, on June 30, 2010—Weitz will be in post-production on New Moon while Eclipse is filming.

Barrymore has just wrapped her feature-directing debut with Whip It!, starring Ellen Page.

A rep for Barrymore declined to comment on the report.

Third Charlie's Angels Movie in the Works

Drew Barrymore recently admitted that a third Charlie’s Angels movie is in the works.

Drew told E!’s Marc Malkin that she’s excited to be reuniting once again with Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu to film part III of the Charlie’s Angels movie series.

Although she admits the films are grueling and hard to make physically—they are also insanely lucrative. The two first movies have brought in $544 million worldwide.