(AllHipHop News) Jay-Z will lead the musical direction over a big budget update of the classic movie “Annie,” which will star Willow Smith.
Furthermore, Jay-Z is expected to write new songs for the movie, despite claiming to be taking a break a press conference promoting his “Made In America” festival.
Will Smith confirmed in an interview with Good Morning America that he would produce the movie, which will have an updated script as well. A director has not been named.
The original “Annie” movie hit theaters in 1982 and was set in a 1933 New York City.
The new version will be set in a present day New York.
Jay-Z sampled the soundtrack to “Annie” to yield one of his biggest records in “Hard Knock Life” in 1999. The song was produced by legendary beat maker Mark The 45 King and appeared on the mogul’s third album Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life.
“Annie” began in the 1920’s as an orphan, her dog and caregiver Daddy Warbucks. It became a highly successful play in the 1970’s.