Youngest Oscar nominee Wallis to play Annie

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Quvenzhane Wallis, fresh from the Oscars spotlight as the youngest ever best actress nominee, is to play Annie in a Tinseltown remake of the hit Broadway musical, filmmakers said.

The nine-year-old, who drew praise for her amazingly mature performance in Beasts of the Southern Wild, will play the title role in Annie, also a remake of the Oscar-nominated 1982 movie.

"With the recent Academy Award nomination and critical acclaim, (Wallis) is a true star and we believe her portrayal as Annie will make her a true worldwide star," said Ms Hannah Minghella, Columbia Pictures production head.

"She is an extraordinary young talent with an amazing range, not only as an actress but as a singer and dancer, and we can't wait for audiences to further discover her."