Quvenzhane Wallis is the youngest Oscar nominee ever, and has already lined up her next film project. Deadline reported on Sunday, Feb. 24 that the 9-year-old "Beasts of the Southern Wild" actress will play the lead role in the "Annie" film remake for Columbia Pictures. Based on the popular Broadway musical, the film will be directed by Will Gluck (Easy A).
Filming for "Annie" is expected to begin this fall and is scheduled to release during the 2014 holiday season. The film is being produced by Overbrook Entertainment and it's partners James Lassiter, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Willow Smith was originally set to play the lead role, but grew too old during the film's development process.
Hannah Minghella, President of Production for Columbia Pictures said, "With the recent Academy Award nomination and critical acclaim, Quvenzhané Wallis is a true star and we believe her portrayal as Annie will make her a true worldwide star."
Based on the "Little Orphan Annie"comic strip, the production debuted on Broadway in 1977. A theatrical movie version was directed by John Huston in 1982 and a television movie followed in 1999.
