Following the announcement that 12-year old Willow Smith is no longer headlining the Annie remake that her parents (Will and Jada Pinkett Smith) and Jay-Z are producing, nine-year old Quvenzhané Wallis – the youngest person ever nominated for an Academy Award, for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild – seemed an obvious choice to replace her in a contemporary re-imagining of the musical (with Jay-Z infusing the original songs with more hip-hop flavor, a la his “Hard Knock Life” remix).
Sure enough, reports are now circulating that Wallis is being considered to join the production, which is now moving actively moving forward once more – with Will Gluck (Easy A, Friends with Benefits) onboard to direct.
EW‘s sources are stressing that the Hollywood power players working behind the scenes on this new re-interpretation of the Annie Broadway show – itself, based on Harold Gray’s Little Orphan Annie newspaper comic strip - “have yet to make any casting decisions.” However, Wallis easily qualifies as a front-runner to star for the time being, if for no other reason than her performance as Hushpuppy in Beasts left such a strong impression on so many who saw the film. Indeed, child stars with any sort of measurable experience are difficult to come by in general, so that also works in her favor of landing the job (assuming she and her parents want it, of course).
As for the sure-to-be-made-an-issue surrounding the casting of Wallis in the Annie role (which is traditionally played by a red-haired actress): it’s happened before – when Broadway actress India Scandrick became the first African-American to play the character onstage – and, ultimately, Annie’s ethnicity is separate from what defines her as a pop cultural icon (see: Screen Rant‘s Kofi Outlaw on ‘Changing Face: Diversity & Change’). The character requires in-your-face pluckiness and unbridled spirit, which Wallis is perfectly capable of handling.
Annie is currently undergoing script revisions, as Gluck revamps previous drafts from Oscar-winning actress/screenwriter Emma Thompson (Sense & Sensibility, Beautiful Creatures) and Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada). Filming is expected to begin this Fall, ahead of a late 2014 theatrical release.
-
Source: EW
Ryan Reynolds Drops Out of 'Highlander' Reboot 
No Loki in 'Avengers 2' 
'Man of Steel' Director & Writer on What Has to Happen in 'Man of Steel 2' 
'Man of Steel' Ending Controversy 
Didn’t they already make that Boston Legal episode?
seriously? why?
inb4 the race comments hahaha
Geez. Tens of people will go see this.
If she has the pipes for it, fine.
But, are the keeping the red hair?
You can’t be Annie without the red hair.
FAIL! Cut the crap with this Will Smith bull and f***ing remakes!
and the fuse has been lit. EVERYBODY GET DOWN!!
not yet…….
Why do I feel like this has already been done? -Oh wait, That was ‘The Honneymooners’
‘BOTSW’ was a dope movie but This!-is where they want to take her career? Who’s running this industry?
I mean if done right I guess, but Isn’t there any other projects she can work on? I feel like it would only limit her to these types of roles, she’s an awesome and effective little actress.
As an african american, and a fan of the original Honeymooners, Yeah…That remake was damned awful and should’ve never happened. Period. Now with Annie…hmmmm…don’t know… could work since being an orpan is not subject to one race.
I wouldn’t mind because I know I won’t be seeing it anyway (hated the original) but I’m sort of disturbed that a movie I’d never heard of until the Oscar nominations came through last month and its star are being talked about as being in future movies when most people won’t have seen her to agree whether this would be a good casting choice or not.
True. Not enough people have seen her on screen in performance of a role to comment on her acting chops; nor have they adequate information about what Will Smith & company intend for this ethno-centric version of “ANNIE”.
Most comments are knee-jerk reaction in a vacuum based upon assumptions.
Much beeter choice than Willow Smith.
Definitely.
I think she will do great!!! She has a awesome figure for it and a really good talent when it comes to child acting.
So Annie is getting The Wiz treatment? Not that The Wiz was bad, this just seems a bit…..late.
I’d see the movie just for her.
Beasts of the Southern Wilds was one of the best movie I’ve seen
I don’t like JAy-z
Oh for the love of crap. -face palm-
Jay-Z will kill it.
I really don’t see why all these “Re-makes” need to be made. Some stuff yeah. But every movie known to man? Annie is White Not black. Take that comment how you want.
Yes!.. I was waiting for a good ol fashioned Race Comment!! Talk about how we would feel if we made shaft white!.. (Which btw no black people really even care about shaft)
OMG do you realise India Scandrick was the first African American girl to play Little Orphan Annie. so its too late for you to complain about the race of the character. Take that comment how you want
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Scandrick
+1
I’d see the movie just for her.
Beasts of the Southern Wilds was one of the best movie I’ve seen