Best Actress Nominee Signs On As The New 'Annie'
CULVER CITY (CBSLA.com) — Whether or not she wins an Academy Award Sunday, Quvenzhane Wallis already has another high-profile gig lined up.
The youngest Best Actress nominee in Oscar history has been tapped to play the title role in a Sony adaptation of "Annie."
Wallis, in her first acting role, stars as Hush Puppie in "Beasts of the Southern Wild."
News of her "Annie" signing was announced Sunday by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of production.
"With the recent Academy Award nomination and critical acclaim, Quvenzhane Wallis is a true star and we believe her portrayal as Annie will make her a true worldwide star," Minghella said in a news release.
"Annie" will be released during the winter holiday season in 2014.
The film is being directed by Will Gluck and produced by James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Will Smith through Overbrook Entertainment, and by Shawn "Jay Z" Carter, Jay Brown, and Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith through Marcy Media.
Gluck is reportedly revising the filmÆs screenplay, which was written by Emma Thompson and rewritten by Aline Brosh McKenna. The screenplay is based on the Broadway musical "Annie," book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin.
The original story came from a popular newspaper cartoon strip -- "Little Orphan Annie" -- that was enormously popular for decades.
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