Will Gluck directing Annie reboot; Willow Smith walks away

Annie is heading back to the big screen and director Will Gluck will help usher the pint sized orphan into the modern world, Deadline reports. Just don’t expect Willow Smith to take on the lead role…

Gluck (Easy A, Friends with Benefits) will helm the reimagining of the Broadway musical for Sony Pictures, and James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Shawn Carter (Jay Z, but you knew that already), Jay Brown, and Tyran Smith (Ty Ty), who have long been tied to the project, will stay on board as producers.

Using a screenplay originally penned by Emma Thompson and later revised by Aline Brosh McKenna, Sony hopes Gluck will “bring to this film all the charm of the original Broadway production while also appealing to a new generation.”

Willow Smith is no longer attached the film, having outgrown the role at the ripe old age of twelve; opening the door for the discovery of a fresh young talent to sing about this hard knock life.