Cameron Diaz has officially signed on to star in Sony’s Annie remake, which is being produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z. Diaz has agreed to play the role of Miss Hannigan, which was one offered to Sandra Bullock.
Deadline confirmed late Wednesday that the studio just wrapped talks with the Bad Teacher star. This keeps the project on track to start filming in the fall for its Christmas Day 2014 release date. Will Gluck (Easy A) is directing.
Bullock was first offered the role back in March, but turned it down. Earlier this month, she was back in talks with the studio, but just days later, the talks broke down again.
The reports suggested that Sony was looking for another major star with international appeal to cast in the part, which was played by Carol Burnett in the 1982 film. While Bullock fit that description, so does Diaz. In October, she’ll be seen in The Counselor with Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender. Sony is also in talks to bring Diaz back for Bad Teacher 2.
Annie will star Beasts of the Southern Wild’s Quvenzhane Wallis and Jamie Foxx. The film comes after a Tony nominated revival opened on Broadway last year. Glee’s Jane Lynch is currently playing Miss Hannigan through July 14.