ANNIE Remake Coming from Will Smith and Jay-Z
Overbrook Entertainment partners James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith are partnering with Jay-Z to release movies and according to Yahoo News, one of the first projects they’re discussing is a remake of the Broadway classic ANNIE.
The Smith’s 9-year-old daughter, Willow would star in the film. Not surprising considering she’s been taking after daddy, signing onto Jay-Z’s record label, Roc Nation, which produced her first single titled “Whip My Hair,” which has been certified Platinum. The film will reportedly be developed with Sony Pictures Entertainment and produced by Overbrook Entertainment and Jay-Z. This isn’t the first time Jay-Z has done something from the hit musical. He once sampled the tune “It’s a Hard Knock Life,” from she show, in his hit “Hard Knock Live (Ghetto Anthem).”
Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad said in a statement:
“The time is right to bring back ‘Annie’ to the big screen. Of course, we’re true believers in Willow’s talent and believe she will be perfect in this role. Combining Willow with the Overbrook team that reimagined ‘Karate Kid’ and the spectacular Jay-Z makes this a dream project.”
Said Jay-Z in a statement:
“The Overbrook Entertainment family and I have a unified vision. We’ve already produced a Tony Award winning play and we’re developing a true superstar in Willow.”
So far, Overbrook Entertainment has generated more than $2.5 billion in revenue by producing some of Smith’s films like Ali, Hitch, Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend and The Karate Kid.
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