Cookie Lyon will be ruling over a whole new squad.
Taraji P. Henson has been tapped the play the villainous Miss Hannigan in NBC’s new adaptation of the Tony-winning musical “Annie Live!” Deadline reports.
The “Empire” actress and three-time Emmy nominee and Oscar nominee will take on the role of the cruel orphanage manager, originally played by Carol Burnett in the 1982 movie version of “Annie.”
“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. “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 is the musical’s first casting decision, and the search for the young star to play Annie is still underway. NBC said they are looking for "a young, future star of any ethnicity to bring optimism, spunk, honesty and a wisdom beyond their years to the classic role."
“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,” Susan Rovner, chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said in a statement to Variety. “Watching her take on this iconic role will be a thrill that has all the makings of must-watch television.”
Henson, who won the Golden Globe, the SAG Award, and the Critic’s Choice Award for her performance of Cookie Lyon on Fox’s drama “Empire,” was nominated for an Oscar for her role in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.
In addition to Burnett, other stars who played Hannigan have included Kathy Bates, Cameron Diaz, Jayne Lynch, Nell Carter, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Sally Struthers.
"Annie Live!" is set to air Thursday, December 2 on NBC.
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