Get Ready: Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas, Spielberg open TCM Fest with E.T.

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

Yes, you can still get tickets, and TCM Classic Film Festival 2022 has kind of outdone itself for movie fans with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's original cast kids, now grown up Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas, plus Director Steven Spielberg and Producer Kathleen Kennedy for this year's red carpet opening ceremony. Not to mention the screening of ET is on the 40th anniversary of the seminal lovable alien film. Here's all the news from TCM.

NEWS: Turner Classic Movies (TCM) today announced actors Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas will appear at the 40^th anniversary screening of the beloved family sci-fi film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial during the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival. They will join director Steven Spielberg and producer Kathleen Kennedy on the red carpet during Opening Night of the Festival, held in Hollywood April 21 – 24, 2022.

Henry Thomas played Elliott, the young boy who befriends an extra-terrestrial, “E.T.,” who is accidentally left behind on Earth. Elliott, along with his sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and their brother Michael, attempts to help his new friend contact his home planet to be rescued, while eluding scientists and government agents determined to apprehend the alien for their own purposes.

In keeping with this year’s festival theme “All Together Now: Back to the Big Screen,” director Michael Schultz and stars Glynn Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Garrett Morris, and Steven Williams will introduce their seminal coming-of-age dramedy Cooley High (1975), about a group of teens in Chicago preparing for life after high school. In addition, stars Kevin Bacon, Paul Reiser, Steve Guttenberg and Tim Daly will celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Diner (1982).

Additional talent set to appear during the TCM Classic Film Festival include:

• Writer-director-actor Warren Beatty for the film Heaven Can Wait (1978)
• Stars Lori Petty, Anne Ramsay, Ann Cusack, Megan Cavanagh, and Jon Lovitz to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of A League of Their Own (1992)
• Actress Pam Grier for the iconic blaxploitation film Coffy (1973)
• Actress Jane Seymour for the film Somewhere in Time (1980)
• Singer-dancer-choreographer Paula Abdul for the 70^th anniversary screening of Singin’ in the Rain (1952). Her mentor and friend Gene Kelly inspired her to become a dancer.
• Actress Aileen Quinn for the 40^th anniversary of the film Annie (1982)
• Actress Margaret O’Brien, who played Beth in Little Women (1949)
• Writer David S. Ward and producers Michael Phillips and Tony Bill will discuss their Academy Award®-winning caper film The Sting (1973)
• Actor Keith Carradine, a huge fan of James Cagney, for the film Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
• Actor Topher Grace for the 40^th anniversary poolside screening of Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Festival passes for the annual event are currently on sale.

*TCM recently updated the health protocols and safety measures for the event. Get the latest guidelines here.

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