Willow Smith Bails On “Annie” Remake

Looks like the highly-anticipated remake of the classic film Annie, starring Willow Smith, is now a no go.

Two years after revealing that he and his wife, along with Jay-Z, were going in with each other on the production of the film, Will Smith announced that his baby girl will no longer be a part of it.

Rumors were originally spreading that Willow was not going to play the title role any longer because she was “too old.”  However, during a speech in Philly, Will Smith put those rumors to rest.  He admitted:

“Willow was supposed to be doing ‘Annie,’ we got Jay-Z to do the movie, got the studio to come in.  And Willow had such a difficult time on tour with ‘Whip my Hair’ and she said, ‘You know Daddy, I don’t think so.’  And I said, ‘Baby, hold up!’  I said, ‘No, no, no, listen:  You’ll be in New York with all of your friends, and Beyoncé will be there.  You will be singing and dancing.’  And she looked at me and said, ‘Daddy, I have a better idea.  How about I just be 12.’

I’m really learning through Willow the necessity that we have to snap ourselves back and refocus on the emotional needs of the people that we love. Someone’s emotional needs can be very very different from your dreams and what you think they should be doing and where they are supposed to be.”

Wowzers!  Kudos to Will and Jada for trying to raise balanced and well-adjusted (albeit über-rich) kids, and not running them ragged into the ground like Joe Jackson did the Jackson 5!

The only question now is: Who’s going to play Annie?  Let us know your suggestions below (and we’ll make sure to give them to Will)!

[Source: IFWT]