Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesBetcha bottom dollar about one thing: The cast of Annie is shaping up to be a good one.
E! News has confirmed that Bridesmaids actress Rose Byrne is in early talks to board the big-screen remake of the beloved li'l-orphan musical, joining an increasingly glittering lineup of stars that already includes Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.
The 33-year-old Aussie is circling the role of Grace, the kindhearted assistant to the movie's billionaire big shot, played by Fox. Beasts of the Southern Wild breakout Quvenzhané Wallis—whose performance in that film made her, at 9 years old, the youngest Best Actress nominee in history—will be playing the spunky titular heroine.
Adding to the star wattage: Will Smith and Jay-Z are producers on the project, which is set to hit theaters on Christmas 2014.
The film marks Byrne's first movie-musical role—the character of Grace was famously played by Bob Fosse muse Anne Reinking in the classic 1982 movie, which was directed by the legendary John Huston.
Casting this remake, meanwhile, has led to a game of musical chairs: Sandra Bullock was originally attached to star as the scheming Miss Hannigan before ultimately passing. Diaz eventually stepped into the role, and like Byrne, the actress will be making her big musical debut in the film.
That's not the only casting switcheroo the project has seen: When news of the remake first surfaced in 2011, it was being pegged as a star vehicle for Willow Smith.
However, the film soon found itself sidetracked after the young actress pulled out of the project, with insiders claiming that by the time the movie was ready to roll, Willow was, at 12 years old, too old to play the pint-size orphan.
Enter Wallis, who's taking on her first high-profile role since winning raves in Beast of the Southern Wild.
Casting hiccups notwithstanding, the Annie remake is currently riding a good wave of affection for, and awareness of, the beloved musical.
A splashy revival debuted on Broadway last year, and it has so far attracted a roster of top-caliber performers including Glee's Jane Lynch, who earned raves for stepping into Miss Hannigan's cantankerous shoes.