Taraji P. Henson is headed to NBC’s holiday production of Annie Live!
The Academy Award-nominated actress has been casted as Miss Hannigan for the TV special, who is most known as the money hungry, children hating antagonist who runs the orphanage that Annie lives in.
According to Variety, Henson will lead the musical opposite a soon-to-be-discovered star, as the network will be holding an open casting call virtually for redheaded optimist “Annie,” with rehearsals in New York this October and November. The network wants “a young, future star of any ethnicity to bring optimism, spunk, honesty and a wisdom beyond their years to the classic role.”
NBCUniversal Television and Streaming’s Chairman, Entertainment Content, Susan Rovner, says “When we decided to bring back NBC‘s holiday musical tradition, we were looking for something that was critically acclaimed and universally beloved – and while that’s definitely the case with Annie, it absolutely applies to Taraji as well.”
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And you better believe she’ll make it “a hard knock life” for the “little girls.”
The 50-year old actress is no stranger to playing a bad-ass female lead. I mean Empire’s Cookie Lyon — a role that earned Henson a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and a Critics Choice Award — was all about her business and so is Miss Hannigan.
“Carol Burnett, who brought Miss Hannigan to life in the classic 1982 movie, is someone I have studied and idolized as far back as I can remember,” Henson said in a statement. “So when the opportunity came to me to join NBC and this incredible group of producers, I jumped! Carol, I hope to do you proud!”
Henson as Hannigan “will be a thrill that has all the makings of must-watch television,” adds Rovner.
Annie Live! is the network’s 6th live musical revival following 2013’s The Sound of Music Live!, 2014’s Peter Pan Live!, 2015’s The Wiz Live!, 2016’s Hairspray Live! and 2018’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. Henson follows the likes of Carol Burnett, Kathy Bates, Jane Lynch and Cameron Diaz, among others who have all played the role of “Miss Hannigan.”
Annie Live! will air on NBC December 2, 2021.
