Rapper Jay Z is set to do a remake of the popular Broadway musical Annie. The rapper has teamed up with Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment to help produce the film. Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx and Rose Byrne have already been cast and 9-year old child actress Quvenzhane Wallis will play the title role.

Wallis, who is best known for her role in the critically acclaimed 2012 film Beast of the Southern Wild, replaced Willow Smith. Smith was originally set to play Annie.

According to US Weekly in February, his dad Will Smith said, "Willow was supposed to be doing Annie. We got Jay-Z to do the movie [and] got the studio to come in. [But] Willow had such a difficult time on tour with 'Whip my Hair' and she said, 'You know Daddy, I don't think so.

"I said, 'Baby, hold up! I said no, no, no. Listen, you'll be in New York with all of your friends and Beyonce 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.'"

Columbia Pictures' Hannah Minghella, president of production, said in a statement about Wallis, "She is an extraordinary young talent with an amazing range, not only as an actress but as a singer and dancer, and we can't wait for audiences to further discover her."

Meanwhile, Cameron Diaz will portray the role of the menacing headmistress Miss Hannigan. Sandra Bullock was originally offered the role but passed on.

Jamie Foxx, on the other hand, was said to portray Daddy Warbucks, while Damages actress Rose Byrne was tapped to play the character of Daddy Warbuck's assistant, Grace.

Jay Z's reboot of the 1982 movie musical will be directed by Will Gluck, who also directed Easy A and Friends with Benefits, and will be shown in Christmas 2014.

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