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Looking to create another box office hit like he did with son Jaden, Will Smith is considering doing a remake of the musical 'Annie' with daughter Willow as the star.
While it's still in the development stage, Variety states that through his film company Overbrook, Smith would produce the film with megastar rapper Jay-Z collaborating on the music.
Details haven't been confirmed regarding whether the film would be a contemporary version and whether it will include any original songs.
Will Smith hit payday when he remade 'The Karate Kid' with Jaden as the star. The film made more than $350 million worldwide.
Willow made her acting debut in her dad's film 'I Am Legend,' and later appeared in 'Kit Kittredge: An American Girl,' alongside Abigail Breslin.
In 2010, she launched her music career with the release of her single 'Whip My Hair' and signed to Jay-Z's record label Roc Nation. The single peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Smith one of the youngest solo artists in history to do so.
In 2009, Jay-Z and Smith, along with Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, helped produced the acclaimed musical 'Fela!'
The Broadway production won the Tony Award for best choreography, best costume design of a musical, and best sound design of a musical.
In 1998, when Jay-Z released his third album, 'Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life,' he scored a hit with the song 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),' which samples the song 'It's the Hard Knock Life' from 'Annie.'
'Hard Knock Life' was Jay-Z's first single to achieve success outside the United States, reaching the top 10 in several countries.
Comments: (9)
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By: wisdom on 1/20/2011 2:41PM
See what unity and money can do.Blessing in the white house and on film
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By: bob on 1/20/2011 9:14AM
Will smith and his wife certainly had wonderful talented kids like themselves. I just hope Smith and jayz don't ruin the classic with crap rap. I am sure Smith will not. He has proven that everything he touches turns to gold.
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By: Tiff on 1/20/2011 10:17AM
I don't know about Jay, but I definitely support the Smiths. Jay is just an opportunist trying to reach billionaire status any way he can. Jay will definitely water down anything with quality, but I trust Will. It is his daughter by the way.
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By: Robert on 1/20/2011 3:06PM
WTF!? Oh, no Jay found a way to recycle Hard Knock Life Remix? This is as bad an idea as comic book characters (Spider-man) and rockstars (Greenday) on Broadway. No class in the theater anymore, just commercial garbage. Why not do a play by Eliison, Dunbar, or Hansberry; hell even Dickey! Because theater is now guided by name brand instead of literary content. Is there no sacred ground?
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By: oh please on 1/21/2011 1:10PM
Oh please no more remakes!!!! Hollywood is running out of ideas again!
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By: Airet on 1/22/2011 2:37AM
This a great idea....This is something that should be done because of the social content that is involved. So many African American children are in foster care...and it is a hard knock life not only for the children, but for the families. I hope the Smith's do justice to this topic that should be exposed.
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By: rhonda on 1/22/2011 10:28AM
I knew when I heard "Hard Knock Life," by Jay-Z that he had seen the Broadway Show "Annie." Too bad Rappers like Jay-Z don't encourage these kids that listen to their music, to expand their horizons. Like go see a real play...There's more to life than what they sing about.
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By: Marvice on 1/23/2011 6:14PM
It is so nice to see when artist team up. If only those of us who aren't stars could see the benefit of doing this amongst each other.
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By: Paul Schlacter on 5/13/2013 3:27AM
Willow is looking great! I'm looking forward to see Willow as Annie! I love the musical "Annie" and have got Annie tickets from GoodSeatTickets.com
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