Robert Wagner will no longer be voicing the title character in the upcoming ABC reboot of ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ TVGuide is reporting. The actor’s reps issued a statement to TVGuide, saying “Due to his scheduling conflicts, (Robert) Wagner will need to step away from his duties as Charlie on ‘Charlie’s Angels.’”

The news comes after the 81-year-old Wagner publicly discussed as recently as May 2011 how well his voice recording was going. He was also excited to follow in the footsteps of his late friend John Forsythe, who voiced Charlie in the original 1976-81 series and two feature films.

The news comes after the former ‘Hart to Hart’ star’s voice was left out of the pilot sent to the press. However, post-production add-ons are often omitted from not-for-review screeners. Since the voice heard in the pilot was only temporary, the network is now looking for someone to cast as the title character, who will give the assignments to the new angels, Kate, played by Annie Ilonzeh; Eve, played by Minka Kelly; and Abby, played by Rachael Taylor.

Wagner’s departure also comes after it was announced in January 2011 that he was cast because of an old deal he had with the original series’ producer, the late Aaron Spelling. Wagner was given a stake in the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ television franchise.

Written by: Karen Benardello

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