Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

#1

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 3:08pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Emma-Thompson-to-Write-Screenplay-for-ANNIE-Remake-20110805

"Ryan Murphy recently revealed to Deadline.com on the film, "They are doing a movie version and I loved the idea that Jay Z was going to do the music." (when Ryan Murphy was attached to direct)

Updated On: 8/5/11 at 03:08 PM

#2

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 3:48pm

The biggest insult to Musical Theatre...

#3

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 3:55pm

Not sure if I understand this...

When it says Jay Z is 'doing' the music - what does that mean?

Is he producing the songs and score from the stage production so in essence it'll end up as Annie remixed, or is he writing entirely new material?

I haven't read the full article yet so apologies if the answer's there:)

Matt

#4

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 3:58pm

Link

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....but the world goes 'round

#5

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 4:28pm

"We talked about how we were going to set it in Detroit."

I'm sorry, what?

#6

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 4:30pm

Detroit? Willow? Jay-Z?...
This ain't Annie Warbucks' - It's Annie Jones!

#7

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 4:59pm

So sue me, I think it could be fun especially if they used the original score and gave it a contemporary twist; its not like we haven't seen the original ANNIE 800 times on stage and on film already (I know sacrilege). Its definitely going to be re-imagined - I love the "Annie Jones" allusion.

#8

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/5/11 at 5:46pm

What a... strange combination.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#9

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/9/11 at 12:06am

Ladies and gents, need I reiterate that studio execs have clarified it is not a remake of the musical, but a film based on the comic strip.

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"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from." ~ Charles M. Schulz

#10

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/9/11 at 12:39am

So no "Tomorrow," no "Maybe," no Miss Hannigan (I don't think she was in the comic strip at all), no "Hard Knock Life," even Jay-Z's version.

And it's going to be set in Detroit.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#11

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/9/11 at 3:48pm

So, in other words, it's going to suck.

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#12

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/9/11 at 4:14pm

"it is not a remake of the musical, but a film based on the comic strip."

You mean the comic strip about the little white girl with red hair?

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#13

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/9/11 at 6:37pm

Look, as different as it may be from the comic strip, at least they're not butchering the musical.

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"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from." ~ Charles M. Schulz

#14

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/9/11 at 7:08pm

When I was asked to design ANNIE, I did some research into the comic and saw how vastly different it was from the play. I mean, we're talking that, aside from the kid and Daddy Warbucks, it was *completely* different in tone and subject matter.

But this "we're gonna be faithful to the comic" thing... I dont see how they can pull it off, frankly. LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE is a conservative's vision of Heaven on Earth: Harold Grey (I love the irony of the name) was vehemently against *any* form of government support for the impoverished. He was such a militant and fiscal hawk (Ever wonder where Daddy made his fortune?) that would make Neal Bortz look like a moderate.

And this bunch is gonna capture that? Suuuuuuuuuuuure.

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#15

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 5:19am

I'm usually staunchly against most re-imaginings because they often times end up being shadows of the originals, but this idea totally seems like it could work really well. I'm all for it.

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Recreation of original John Cameron orchestration to "On My Own" by yours truly. Click player below to hear.

#16

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 7:56am

How can they even throw the word "faithful" around when they're setting it in Detroit with an African-American Annie and with Jay-Z's music?

That's three entire departures already. Wanna bet it's not set in the 1930s? That would be four departures.

So exactly what part is faithful?

I'm all for adapting material with good intentions, but don't call it "faithful" when it's anything but.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#17

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:00am

Hmm. Willow in a red wig?

Number five.

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http://docandraider.com

#18

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:18am

I think I said this in another thread, but I would imagine that what they are keeping is the essence of the character, not the milieu.

Annie is an impoverished child with no family who has an indomitable spirit. She helps a rich and (emotionally) damaged man see what's truly important in life, and that money isn't everything.

Detroit is the perfect setting for a re-imagining. The depression can be easily changed to the recession, especially since Detroit was hit so hard.

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....but the world goes 'round

#19

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:24am

I totally agree that it could work, just as you have described it. (Nice description, too.)

I just wouldn't call that "faithful" at all. It's the word I'm objecting to, not their adaptation of the material ( ... yet). "Faithful" is misleading.

It would be better if they had said, "we'll honor the intent of the original material," or something like that.

And given the talent involved, I think they have a shot at pulling it off.

But "faithful?" No, it's not.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#20

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:59am

And Emma Thompson (bless her heart) is so intuitively knowledgeable about Detroit, and America, and African-American culture? Loved her Sense and Sensibility screenplay but Jane Austen this ain't.

#21

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 9:04am

^ I said essentially the same thing in an earlier thread.


EDIT: Then I played devil's advocate and also mentioned that Ang Lee directed Sense & Sensibility, and did a beautiful job of it, despite being totally out of his perceived element as well.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 8/10/11 at 09:04 AM

#22

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 9:10am

Yea, Emma is an unusual choice. But I have seen a lot of WTF situations where the final product was wonderful.

I personally have no interest in seeing this. I like Annie, but it's a little shop worn for me at this point.

I was just saying that I'm going to reserve my judgment until I find out more as to where they're going with it. It could be a huge hit. And the Smith kids both have charisma so Willow may really be able to sell this.

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....but the world goes 'round

#23

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/10/11 at 9:24am

I suppose I could be more specific, too. The Austen book that Emma adapted and Ang Lee directed is full of period detail, and amounts to a character study as much as a story line. Working from a very dated and politically pointed comic strip means that the human and social elements really need to be added in and created from scratch. I am not saying that a white person can't write a black character (or vice verrsa), but only that Emma's English background and non-poverty circumstances don't seem to be a likely source of help. Yes, there is the power of imagination but there is also the power of experience. But since I have not the slightest interest in seeing this, I probably will never know.

#24

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/12/11 at 7:59pm

I didn't have enough to do today and THIS is what happened.

(tried to insert image and can't figure out how.... oh well....)

Updated On: 8/12/11 at 07:59 PM

#25

Annie Remake by Emma Thompson and Jay Z

Posted: 8/12/11 at 9:16pm

This seems like such a weird team (Emma and Jay-Z), but I have to say that if Emma Thompson is involved, I have high expectations. She is a woman of quality and brilliance.