User:Rusted AutoParts/Annie (2014 film)

Annie is an upcoming musical film directed by Will Gluck and produced by rapper Jay-Z and Will Smith. It stars Quvenzhané Wallis in the title role and Jamie Foxx in the role of Benjamin Stacks, an update of the character Daddy Warbucks. It is an adaption of the musical of the same name and a remake of the 1982 film. It is due to begin production in August of 2013 and will be out for release on Christmas, 2014.

Plot
A modern retelling of the story, a poor orphan is adopted by a wealthy politician.

Cast

 * Quvenzhané Wallis as Annie
 * Jamie Foxx as Benjamin Stacks
 * Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan
 * Rose Byrne as Grace
 * Bobby Cannavale

Production
Sony first announced the remake in January 2011, with Jay-Z and Will Smith serving as producers, as well as Willow Smith, Will's daughter, signed to play the lead role. In February 2011, Glee creator Ryan Murphy became the front runner to direct the film, but by March he had declined the opportunity. The production soon began seeking a screenwriter, with actress Emma Thompson being considered as a contender. No developments on the film arrived until May 2012, when Will Smith appeared on Good Morning America and provided updates, including that the film would be set in modern day New York City, confirming Thompson was providing a script and that Jay-Z would also provide newly written songs for the film. In July 2012, We Bought a Zoo screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna wrote a second draft of the script. In August, it was announced production was to begin in Spring 2013.

In January 2013, Easy A director Will Gluck was hired to direct, but Willow Smith had dropped out of the film. By February, Beasts of the Southern Wild star and Oscar nominee Quvenzhane Wallis had replaced Smith in the lead role, and the film had secured a Christmas 2014 release. In March, the search for the rest of the cast continued, with Justin Timberlake rumoured for the role of Daddy Warbucks This was proven false when Jamie Foxx signed on for the role, now named Benjamin Stacks. In June, Cameron Diaz was cast as the evil Miss Hannigan, after Sandra Bullock declined. In July, Rose Byrne join the cast as Grace, Stacks's faithful assistant and in August Boardwalk Empire star Bobby Cannavale join the cast as a "bulldog political adviser" to Benjamin Stacks.