It is beyond me why Sony Pictures wants to do a remake of “Annie”, but hey maybe it will be good.

Actress Cameron Diaz (Shrek series) has recently accepted the role of the evil Miss Hannigan in director Will Gluck’s forthcoming Annie remake, due to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2014.

Diaz, who was up against some stiff competition for the role in the form of Sandra Bullock (The Proposal). Bullock was said to be a sure thing for the role, but backed out at the last minute. Diaz, however, has never really had a role like this before which could do some very good things for her career. Diaz, 40, will be playing the youngest version of Hannigan. Actresses Jane Lynch (Annie on Broadway), Kathy Bates (1999’s Annie), and Carol Burnett (1982’s Annie) have previously played the role. If the film is a musical such as the original, then we will get to hear Diaz sing at least two songs in the film, which will be interesting to say the least.

In the film, Diaz will be co-starring alongside Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) as Annie and Jamie Foxx (White House Down) as Benjamin Stacks, the equivalent of the Daddy Warbucks role. Actor Will Smith and Rapper Jay-Z will be serving as producers for the film. Smith’s daughter, Willow, was originally up for the title role.

Sources: E Online, Huffington Post