Sandra Bullock in Early Talks to Join 'Annie' Remake at Sony (Exclusive)

By Jeff Sneider

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Oscar winner Sandra Bullock is in early discussions to play Miss Hannigan in Sony and Overbrook Entertainment's remake of "Annie," two individuals familiar with the project have told TheWrap.

Hannigan, of course, is the mean woman who runs the orphanage where Annie and her friends live. Carol Burnett played the role in the original 1982 film, and Sony has sought to cast an actress with comedic chops and international appeal.

What's especially interesting about Bullock's potential casting is that she initially passed on the role. Now insiders tell TheWrap that Bullock is back at the negotiating table for a family film that may wind up a holiday hit.

Will Smith and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter are producing Will Gluck's updated musical, which stars Quvenzhane Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild") as the titular orphan, who was originally supposed to be played by Smith's daughter Willow. Jamie Foxx will play NYC mayoral hopeful Benjamin Stacks, a variation on the Daddy Warbucks character.

Sony had no comment, while a representative for Bullock, who is traveling with the actress in Europe, did not reply to numerous requests for comment.

The "Annie" remake is the rare musical designed to appeal to African-American audiences, which also made a sleeper hit out of Bullock's 2009 drama "The Blind Side," which grossed $255 million in the U.S. alone.

Gluck is directing from a script by Emma Thompson and Aline Brosh McKenna that the filmmaker recently revised to suit his vision for the movie, which is expected to start production this fall. "Annie" will hit theaters on Christmas Day 2014.\

Joining Jay-Z and Smith as producers are the latter's Overbrook Entertainment partners James Lassiter and Jada Pinkett Smith, as well as Marcy Media's Jay Brown and Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith. Sony's Andrea Gianatti and Devon Franklin are overseeing for the studio.

Bullock, who is coming off another supporting turn in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," next stars opposite Melissa McCarthy in the buddy cop comedy "The Heat," which 20th Century Fox opens June 28. She's also expected to be in the awards mix this year for Alfonso Cuaron's "Gravity," which Warner Bros. will release on October 4.

Bullock is represented by CAA and attorney Clifford Gilbert-Lurie.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sandra-bullock-early-talks-join-annie-remake-sony-222851632.html

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