Will Smith’s Daughter to star in an ‘Annie’ Remake?

One of my least favorite movies is Independence Day. Just thinking about the film makes me angry, because I always felt it has so many holes in logic that it can’t possibly be taken seriously. I really don’t get why people get their jollies from watching famous landmarks get blown up, especially since the special effects really paved the way for the Jerry Bruckheimer/McG/Brett Ratner style of “blow it all up” cinema. Finally, it also gave me a (probably unfair) total dislike of Will Smith and anything the man has done since. Seriously, any time I see Will Smith in a movie I just can’t help but think of his cocky character in Independence Day (usually because Smith usually ends up playing the same exact character in most of his films anyway). I just can’t give the guy a chance.

Naturally as a child of the 80s I didn’t care much for the idea of a classic like The Karate Kid being re-made, let alone the fact that Will Smith was producing it with his son in the title role. But it made buckets of cash, so the Smith family must be doing something right. Now Variety reports that Will Smith is exploring the possibility of producing a remake of Annie in a similar fashion, only with his daughter Willow in the title role. Well, hit the jump for more info unless you’re already as scared off as I am!

The film would be produced by Sony and Jay-Z, who worked with Willow on her first single “Whip My Hair” and also used a sample from Annie in his huge hit “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” who are in talks to work on the music. I’m unsure why a musical that is already beloved would need work on its music, but I’m already giggling thinking about Jay-Z playing Daddy Warbucks. Probably wouldn’t happen, but it still makes me smile.

My biggest concern is: can Willow even sing? The style of singing show tunes, like the ones in Annie, is entirely different from the rapping she does in “Whip My Hair.” I know there’s all sorts of studio wizardry to make anyone sound good, but I’m sure there has to be an eleven/twelve year old girl out there who doesn’t happen to be the daughter of the producer who has better vocal chops. Plus, the article in Variety suggests that the film might end up being set in contemporary times. I can’t see how Annie could really be done justice if it isn’t set during the Great Depression, but, hey, Shakespeare is tweaked all the time so it’s entirely possible for Annie, too.

So what do you think, folks? Ready for another Smith family remake? Let us know in the comments — and while you’re at it, why don’t you share your least favorite scene in Independence Day, too?