If you saw BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, it’s easy to understand why Hollywood stood up and took notice of young Quvenzhané Wallis, and not just because the role earned her an Oscar nomination. The engaging young actress was tapped to star in a remake of ANNIE, co-starring with Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. Will Gluck serves as director on this one, which also features Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale. The choice of casting a black actress to play Annie has become the subject of controversy among certain moviegoers, some of who adamantly state the 80-year-old comic strip character was never meant to be anything but a white, red-haired girl. While I do love Quvenzhané Wallis and Jamie Foxx, I’m not entirely sure how to feel on the subject. On one hand it seems like it shouldn’t matter, and I’m certainly not offended by it, but on the other hand it feels like the choice is bound to naturally stir up racist comments. There’s also the question of why it has to be called ANNIE, and not something else entirely, of course that would mean a departure from the mythos of the character. All that said, the trailer looks like a fun modern take on the classic story, and all of the actors seem to be having a good time with it. Not yet sold on Cameron Diaz, but I’m still cringing thinking about her role in Ridley Scott’s THE COUNSELOR last year. Take a look at the new poster (above) and trailer below for ANNIE and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
A Broadway classic that has delighted audiences for generations comes to the big screen with a new, contemporary vision in Columbia Pictures’ comedy, Annie. Director/Producer/Screenwriter Will Gluck teams with producers James Lassiter, Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith, and Shawn “JAY Z” Carter, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith with a modern telling that captures the magic of the classic characters and original show that won seven Tony Awards. Celia Costas serves as Executive Producer. The screenplay is by Will Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna, based on the musical stage play “Annie,” book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and on “Little Orphan Annie,” © and ® Tribune Media Services, Inc.
Academy Award® nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who’s also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they’d be back for her someday, it’s been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything’s about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) – advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) – makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he’s her guardian angel, but Annie’s self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it’s the other way around.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
