EXCLUSIVE: Minka Kelly and Rachael Taylor are close to putting on angel wings. The Friday Night Lights alumna and the Transformers babe are in negotiations for the remaining two Angel spots in ABC’s Charlie’s Angels pilot. They would join previously cast Annie Ilonzeh to form the new trio of sexy female sleuths – Kelly, whose character will be renamed, Ilonzeh’s Kate and Taylor’s Abby.
Producing studio Sony Pictures TV and Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films went through an exhaustive search for the 3 leads in the Charlie’s Angels series reboot. Kelly was a name the producers kept coming back to and they are now reworking the 
role to tailor it to her. In the current breakdown, the character, previously named Marisa, is described as a former U.S. Marine, a weapons expert trained in all forms of hand-to-head combat and a neat freak.
Taylor’s Abby is the youngest and sassiest of the Angels, the beautiful and privileged daughter of a notorious Wall Street crook who is an expert con artist herself as well as a Krav Maga expert.
Kelly, repped by CAA and Management 360, has kept busy since leaving FNL 2 years ago. She has been recurring on NBC’s Parenthood, which is produced by the same company that produces FNL, Imagine TV. She next stars in Screen Gems’ The Roommate, which opens Feb. 4. Aussie actress-model Taylor is with WME.
Alfred Gough and Miles Millar penned the script for the Charlie’s Angels pilot and are executive producing with with Leonard Goldberg, executive producer of the original series, Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen.
calling Rachel a babe? Isn’t that a bit sexist
Rachel Taylor is a good choice, hopefully they let her speak in her Aussie accent instead of speaking in an American one. I would have preferred Katie Cassidy, but I’m sure she will be cast in a project worth her talents.
Minka Kelly is someone who is very pretty, but no one really likes. I never worked with her, but people don’t say nice things. Hopefully the stories aren’t true and they can get along great. She was sweet in her minor role as “Autumn” in “(500) Days of Summer”. Odette Yustman is hotter. But we’ll see if the casting sticks.
a seriously weird post! Do I detect just a hint of jealousy in your very well worded post?
I actually look forward to this “reboot”. TV right now could use a lot more escapist lighter fare. People complain about reboots and remakes, but TV needs more check your brain at the door action shows that don’t get bogged down in mythology.
That said, I have not heard nice things about her personally, but I don’t know her/haven’t worked with her. I am also not familiar with her body of work. I do know she was very sweet in the one thing I did see her in (“(500) Days of Summer”).
I’m just commenting that if it is true that she is not good to work with, the show could run into another “Charmed” like scenario where an actor is replaced.
Overall, I am glad that they have finally cast this. But I don’t know if any of the casting will really stick and that goes for ALL of them.
No jealousy intended with my original post.
Haha, I knew Minka back during filming of FNL season 1. She’s a really sweet girl, just shy and it can be confused with “unfriendly” in an era where it seems like everybody is required to have some over the top made-for-reality-tv personality. I think a lot of the hate on her comes from MLB fans re: who she’s married to.
Actually, though I care deeply for Minka, we’re not married.
Thanks for clearing that up. Good to know!
The fact that she’s with Jeter shouldn’t be a reason to send hate her way.
Hopefully she can pull off being a convincing Ex-Marine. It would be wise if they sent them all to train for a few months before filming so that the action looks authentic.
She is not married to Jeter. Don’t be fooled.
I really doubt that Minka Kelly today is the same Minka Kelly you knew back during FNL season 1. That was a very long time ago- well before her mother died, Esquire, Jeter and a certain plane incident that may or may not have happened. I’m just saying- that was a really long time ago. People evolve.
Ok Charlie’s Angels, you win. Ill watch, (on mute).
Yes, this is now my favorite show
I love Minka Kelly — now I’m excited about this show.
anyone else find it funny that they cast the two hot ones last?
You are out of your mind if you don’t think Annie Ilonzeh is gorgeous. Are we looking at different pictures?
I actually think Ilonzeh is very pretty, and she’ll certainly look good made-up for the role.
Kelly and Taylor are obviously gorgeous, although Minka Kelly is definitely overrated (sorry…she’s not the sexiest woman alive, Esquire). I’m interested to see if they’ll show the spark to make these roles work, as I haven’t seen it from them before (particularly Kelly).
Are you baiting us, Chris?
If the first girl had “westernized” her hair and worn it straight, you probably would have thought she was hot, too. i think she has a more beautiful face than Minka or Rachel – body, don’t know yet.
I’ll definetly be spanking the monkey while watching this show!
I thought they wanted a Latino girl for one of the Angels…
Figures.They’re changing the Marisa character from a latina to a white chick.Great.I preferred a more diverse team.
Minka Kelly is pretty but just so jaw droppingly mediocre and bland as an actress. Every time I saw her on FNL or Parenthood all I could think of was how much more interesting and truthful everyone else in the scene was. Including background.
But clearly she has a great publicist, so more power to her.
A lot of the critics liked her performances in both shows. She’s like Summer Glau.
It’s not really funny. It is pretty racist of you though.
I sat next to Minka on a cross-country flight a few years back. Had I not recognized her, I would have never known she was a star. Couldn’t have been nicer and more normal. Absolute sweetheart.
just get a new Farrah
Minka Kelly’s acting always bored me. If you can just get past her annoying voice. Not a strong actress at all. Could be why they passed on her for True Love and the other show she was suppose to play lead didn’t sell. She’s not a strong actress at all.
This type of show works for her because she’s only a looker and it doesn’t hurt that her famous boyfriend the yankees Derek Jeter’s name backs her. If you go to the IMDB the first thing mentioned in her bio is she’s Derek Jeters’ girlfriend. As if that’s what she’s known for and it’s a selling point and only interesting thing about her.
She also just joined the same talent agency as Jeter CAA recently. I see her blowing up as long as they are still dating.
Derek Jeter is not married. Jeter stated in a recent interview he was not engaged or had plans at the moment to get married. For all you “just jealous” comments. The facts are the facts. jealousy not needed just because you don’t agree with other’s opinions. So stop with the catty “jealous” thing. Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon or Angelina Jolie may think the same thing. Why would they be jealous of Minka Kelly? They have looks, talent, and awards.
She was with caa long before she started dating Derek jeter
She is a perfect angel!
Actually she didn’t. She was not with CAA when she met Jeter. Even though the celebrities Derek Jeter has dated are with CAA including Mariah Carey.If you look at the article it says she joined CAA after she left FNL. But you can always google because she was with another talent agency. Jeter has bought Minka the Esquire cover and she was on the cover of a health magazine because the editor knows Jeter put Minka on there as a favor to her. Good for Minka, her career is blowing up but she’s more famous for being known as Derek Jeters’ girlfriend than anything else. If they were to break up, her career would sink, because there are plenty up and coming actresses that are younger and and since she dyed her hair Brunette. There are plenty Hollywood actresses coming up as well as Minka gets lost in Hollywood unless she’s mentioned with a bigger billing actres such as Leighton who’s a scene stealer which Minka has never been able to do. Thank goodness for having a rich powerful boyfriend to help her get famous.
That’s okay, Donald Faison tried to help her but she natural blonde. He helped get her recognized in the industry therefore FNL. Now Derek Jeter is getting her blown up because she’s his girlfriend and he’s calling in favors.
anyone think this will turnout like she spies…hahaha
Well good for them! Although, I was really hoping Minka would stay with Imagine and do their Playboy pilot. I would watch her in that religiously if it got a series order.
Minka Kelly i lovely and talented and people who really know her love her!
shes the perfect angel!
oh and btw people, she was with CAA beofe she started to date Derek Jeter
*yawn*. Let me guess, this is going to be on MTV?
Why on EARTH …
Katie Cassidy should have been cast.
These ladies are all gorgeous to look at but I will probably watch with the sound off.
“Hand to head combat?”
Minka Kelly as an angel? hmmm, no. All she has ever played is the sweet high school type. She is very attractive but I don’t think that she can pull off a strong female character- she’s not a very good actress. Rachel Taylor, however, is badass! I’ve never heard of the third girl.
Neat freak? Reminds me of the movie, Electra, with Jen Garner. Neat, fits for JG, but some like it downright messy.
Mythology, grr, Alias really had some cool stuff in it. Strip Alias of [ ] and it falls dead flat.
Best to Charlies Angels tv remake. JG, might be a good candidate, if CA tv was really good.
Please, PLEASE, why is CA GIRL 2, going to be, ouch, a Walmart CA? I have no knowledge of these two, but the comments, seem, OUCH!
Such pliant fingers, for puppetmastery, all popped out.
Great news about Minka and Rachael. something to look forward too and hopefully lots of bikinis.
So who is the new Charlis….I would suggest Keith David for the voice.
Good outcome for Taylor. For anyone not familiar with the story, she’s had a pretty rough time of it lately, being beaten up by her loser-druggie-celebrity ex-boyfriend. She’s handled herself pretty well and with great dignity ever since it emerged. Karma has a way of coming back round