Cameron Diaz playing Miss Hannigan in 'Annie' movie, report says

"Bad Teacher" star Cameron Diaz will now be a bad orphanage director: The actress has signed on to play the formidable Miss Hannigan in an upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Annie."

The show biz industry site Deadline.com reported that Diaz, 40, has concluded negotiations with Columbia Pictures to take on the role, after Sandra Bullock, who had been in talks for it, recently pulled out.

Diaz will star alongside "Beasts of the Southern Wild's" Quvenzhané Wallis, 9, who became the youngest Oscar-nominee for best actress for her performance in that 2012 film.

The Hollywood Reporter said in April that Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx will play a version of Daddy Warbucks called Benjamin Stacks in this film adaptation of the musical, based on the long-running comic strip "Little Orphan Annie."

It is scheduled to open Christmas Day 2014.

The current revival at the Palace Theatre (starring Jane Lynch as Miss Hannigan) is the musical's third Broadway production, following the 1977-83 original that opened with Andrea McArdle as Annie, Dorothy Loudon as Miss Hannigan and Reid Shelton as Warbucks. Director John Huston's 1982 movie adaptation starred Aileen Quinn, Carol Burnett and Albert Finney in those respective roles. A 1997 Broadway revival with Brittny Kissinger, Nell Carter and TV character-actor John Schuck, played 239 performances and 14 previews.

The new film's producers include actor Will Smith and rapper-mogul Jay-Z. It is being directed by Will Gluck (2010's "Easy A," 2011's "Friends with Benefits").

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