Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen any version of Annie? I probably haven’t seen it since I was like 7 years old. For me, it’s just not one of those stories or musicals that stayed with me into adulthood (like The Sound of Music, or My Fair Lady). So… I don’t really care one way or the other about the Annie remake. At one point, the remake was supposed to star Willow Smith as Annie and Jay-Z was involved and the whole thing sounded like a hot mess anyway. Then Willow decided that she would rather be a kid as opposed to a multi-hyphenate entertainer, much to her father’s dismay. So now they’re doing the remake with Quvenzhane Wallis, the 9-year-old phenom from Beasts of the Southern Wild.
So, the rest of the casting details are being leaked steadily now. Jamie Foxx is on board to play Daddy Warbucks, and Will Smith and Jay-Z are still producing. There were rumors that Sandra Bullock had been offered the role of Miss Hannigan (played in the original movie by Carol Burnett). But now they’re saying Sandy doesn’t want it. And so Cameron Diaz has come on board?
EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that Sony’s Columbia Pictures just concluded the negotiations with Cameron Diaz today for the updated moppet movie musical starting production in the fall for a Christmas 2014 release.
Sandra Bullock had been in talks for the role in Annie but pulled out recently. Beasts Of The Southern Wild‘s Quvenzhane Wallis, who became the youngest actress ever to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination, is on board to play the iconic orphan, and Best Actor Oscar winner for Ray, Jamie Foxx, is Daddy Warbucks in the classic comic strip-turned-musical being produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z and directed by Will Gluck.
I think Diaz is an inspired choice to play the mean lady who runs the orphanage after the actress strutted her nasty in Sony’s Bad Teacher and a few other choice roles.
I’ve seen some people complain about the idea that Cameron would have to sing and she’s not really known as a singer. But isn’t Jay-Z producing the soundtrack? He’ll be able to take care of that, and maybe they’ll turn it into a rap. Besides that, I don’t think Camy’s singing voice is, like, actively horrible. Remember her song in Vanilla Sky? She doesn’t have a “Broadway voice” but I think she’s more than capable of faking her way through a Jay-Z produced musical film.
Besides that, I think this is a good move for Cameron. I like the way she’s taking more character roles and doing more ensembles. She’s being smart about her career.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
She looks like she’s morphing into Ellen Barkin and her final form will be Madonna.
OMG! I was thinking the exact same thing as I looked at the picture of her in the red dress.
Epic comment here.
She seems to be having a better career run now than when she started. Good for her. But I really wish she’d stop messing with her face.
ITA. Her career is shaping up better than I expected.
I can’t picture her in the role at all. I loved the original movie so much as a kid, and still do. And Quvenzhane will probably be great in the remake.
i have no idea why people want to remake musicals with people who cant sing
I’m sure you already know the answer but I feel like someone has to post this in reply~
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
It’s all about calculating the biggest payday possible for the producers and the studio. Mainstream audiences are bored by actual talent. They just want to be titillated, not to have to feel, think, or be elevated or transformed in any meaningful way.
I can’t agree that it is a good move for her. She will be a caricature in the film. As we know, actresses over 40 (and lately, it seems, actresses who aren’t in their 20s) have a hard time. This is a transition that takes her into the unattractive female scold typecasting.
Of course I could be wrong, and maybe it’s just because I have zero interest in this future movie.
I’ve heard her sing in My Best Friend’s Wedding where she was I’m assuming (hoping?) purposefully bad. That’s all I’ve got.
She also sang in “A Life Less Ordinary” with Ewan McGregor…she stank. Super stank. BAD.
They dubbed her in The Mask.
So, no, don’t think she’ a good choice. And she’s not aging well, probably because she’s junked her face and it’s not moving together right?
I think it still sounds like a hot mess why are they remaking it again? Do we really need a rap version of Annie? Jamie Foxx as Daddy Warbucks just gives me the shivers daddy Warbucks was always a much older man although Jamie does the arrogance down pat.
definitely hot mess in the works.
cammie can easily play a drunken, desperate, hot mess, doesn’t seem like much of a stretch at all. she could be good fit for miss hannigan.
nobody can out play the burnett/curry/peters trio, though. they were amazeballs.
It was an amazing combo!
When My Best Friend’s Wedding came out, she talked about what a bad singer she is and that they used her actual singing voice for her terrible performance. She even laughed at how bad she was.
I think Jane Lynch is playing or did play the role on Broadway. I think Cameron could do it, but Jane might have been a better choice. She sang “Little Girls” on Glee, and it was hysterical.
I think she would be fabulous as Ms. Hannigan. I’m not a big Cameron fan but she has great comic timing. This role will suit her well.
Not a fan. Think she’s horribly miscast. Can’t sing, and not a great actress. Years ago when she looked better she got roles but now she looks awful. Is she following Madonna and Courtney Love’s play book on aging?
For me, Cameron Diaz is in line right after Gwyneth Paltrow. Blegh. Pity as she was adorable when she first started, but she seems so full of herself.
They remade Gambit which must have gone straight to video. She is no Shirley MacLaine.
Miscast. I hope they find someone else. Bullock would have been better.
what’s with the orange hair?
Carol Burnett will always be Miss Hannigan for me.
But Cameron might be a fun choice.
She needs to stop…..gracefully start laying low….
I’ve never seen her bad in a movie. I will wait and see.
But please tell me the photo at the top isn’t a face with fillers? She looks odd.
How does Cameroon Diaz still have an acting career? It’s not just that she is a bad actress–she’s so bad, she just distracts from the rest of the movie.
WTF? There will only be ONE Mrs. Hannigan – Carol Burnett.
I feel sorry for her because from the neck down she is red hot but that face! That hair color! She looks like a Muppet whose face was put in the dryer.
This is a good career choice for her. I think she’ll be decent-probably not great but good enough. She’s smart to branch out and do different sorts of roles. Her sex kitten days are over and if she wants to stick around she’s smart to take character parts.
Rosie O’Donnell should have been given the role.
Awful choice only because Allison Janey would have been PERFECT for this role!
She’s not aging well.