A night after reuniting the Friends actresses and hosting an amazing Bob Mould performance, Jimmy Kimmel Live!had another surprise in store: ABC would be entering the major network musical wars with their own version of Annie, but with a very unlikely lead in the role of red-haired orphan girl.
NBC announced recently theyre planning a live televised production of the musical Peter Pan, and whats interesting about that is Peter Pan will be played by the very talented Allison Williams who is a woman, shes on the HBO show Girls, Kimmel said. Thats great, but tonight I have the honor of announcing that my network, ABC, has decided to top them. On November 3rd, we will be havinga live production of the musical Annie, and here tonight to give us a sneak preview, the actor who will be playing the lead role of little orphan Annie Mr. Ed Sheeran!
The singer then came out in Annies famed red dress. Sheeran made it one note into the musicals most famous number Tomorrow before admitting I cant do this and dragging his dog Sandy a stuffed animal on a skateboard off the stage.
Of course, the whole thing was a fun joke, but a real Annie reboot is on its way to movie theatres later this year, with Beasts of the Southern Wildstar Quvenzhan Wallis playing Annie and Jamie Foxx cast in the Daddy Warbucks role. Jay Z is also listed among the producers of the Annie remake. Thankfully, Sheeran wont be in that film in any capacity.