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Will Smith Considering ‘Annie’ Reboot Starring Willow

Jay-Z reportedly is in talks to work on the music for the film. By Gil Kaufman Willow Smith Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/ Getty Images Wearing his producer hat, Will Smith has already successfully rebooted one movie franchise, “The Karate Kid,” with son Jaden in the lead role, and now the veteran star reportedly has his eye on reviving another iconic film for daughter Willow. According to Variety , Smith is in discussions with Sony about potentially remaking the 1982 movie musical “Annie” with Willow starring as the adorable singing orphan. Few details are available about the project, which is in the early development stages, but the magazine reports that Jay-Z — who signed the preteen “Whip My Hair” singer to his Roc Nation label last year — is in talks to work on music for the film. It was unclear at press time if the movie would be a contemporary update of the story, which originated in 1924 as the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” then morphed into a hit Broadway musical in 1977 before being taken to the big screen by director John Huston. The original film starred Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks, Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan, Bernadette Peters as Lily St. Regis and newcomer Aileen Quinn as Annie. The movie takes place during the Great Depression and finds redheaded cutie pie Annie living in an orphanage run by the cruel drunk Miss Hannigan. She is later adopted by billionaire “Daddy” Warbucks and treated to the lush life after a childhood filled with struggle. In addition to being Willow’s musical mentor, Jay has a long history with the “Annie” franchise. He sampled the iconic song “Hard Knock Life” from the musical for his Grammy-nominated 1998 single, “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” from the Vol. 2 … Hard Knock Life album. The hip-hop mogul has spoken about how he connected with the rags-to-riches story of the musical’s grade-school star, telling NPR last year that he wrote a personal letter to the tune’s composers describing how much “Annie” meant to him growing up while asking for permission to sample it. Variety hinted that, considering Sony banked more than $350 million on “The Karate Kid” last summer, it seems likely the studio will seriously consider the “Annie” re-do. Do you think an updated “Annie” movie starring Willow Smith is a good idea? Share your opinions in the comments. Related Artists Willow Smith

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Will Smith Considering ‘Annie’ Reboot Starring Willow

‘American Idol’ Alum Matt Giraud Thinks Steven Tyler Was ‘Really Funny’

‘To sit in front of an icon like that has got to be ridiculous,’ the season eight finalist says. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Matt Giraud via streaming video on Wednesday Photo: MTV News On Wednesday night, the new and revamped “American Idol” debuted. It was Simon Cowell-free and featured new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler . So, what did season 8 contestant Matt Giraud think of the show without Cowell? “I did kind of miss him. I was kind of thinking, ‘Oh yeah, can’t wait to hear what Simon says … oh yeah, there’s no Simon.’ [But] I think they did pretty well,” he told MTV News on Wednesday night during “Judging the Judges.” “We missed him. He adds something for sure.” While he was mourning the loss of Cowell, as did fellow Season 8 contestant Allison Iraheta , Giraud did have an interesting analysis of one new judge’s style. “I know the producers are worried about Steven Tyler ‘s mouth,” he joked. “I thought he was really funny, how he was checking out all the contestants. Watch when they go live. He’s going to look like a puppy on a leash.” Regarding Tyler’s somewhat animated judging style, Giraud says that he may have scatted right back at him if given the chance. “I would do the same thing back! I would probably want to sing an Aerosmith song,” he laughed. “To sit in front of an icon like that has got to be ridiculous. I think the judges this year, it’s kind of cool to see actual entertainers who are still relevant.” With the judges’ table completely revamped save for “Idol” vet Randy Jackson, does it even matter who sits at the table in the long run? “They do give you advice. I think in the beginning rounds, every word they say is so important. It means a lot in the beginning,” he explained. “But I think as you go along and you know you have fans out there, they matter less and less.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol:’ Judging The Judges Related Photos Before Steven Tyler Was An ‘American Idol’ Judge … Jennifer Lopez: From The Block To ‘American Idol’

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‘American Idol’ Alum Matt Giraud Thinks Steven Tyler Was ‘Really Funny’

‘American Idol’ Exec Says ‘Legend’ Steven Tyler Will Be Good TV

‘You never know what he’s going to say. That, as a TV producer, you’re interested in,’ Nigel Lythgoe tells MTV News. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Matt Elias Nigel Lythgoe Photo: MTV News One thing that fans of “American Idol” can count on each season is a level of unpredictability, particularly once the show narrows the contestants down to 20 and the performance rounds and weekly eliminations begin. This season has upped the unpredictability factor in the form of new and potentially wayward, wacky judge Steven Tyler. When MTV News caught up with the reality show’s returning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe , we asked if he was worried about having to censor the Aerosmith frontman. “Oh yes, [I have] every worry about that,” Lythgoe readily admitted about Tyler’s sometimes-potty mouth. “But we’re on a delay, and he’s already done it. And then he forgets that he’s not allowed to say it, so he’ll say, ‘F—! Did I say f—? Oh f—. Sorry mate.’ ” Lythgoe — who also appears as a judge on Fox’s other reality talent show, “So You Think You Can Dance”— has said that a large part of Tyler’s appeal is not being able to predict what he’ll say or do. “He has come through that whole rock and roll circus,” said Lythgoe of Tyler , whom he also hopes will perform on the show, along with judges Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, at some point. “Why wouldn’t you want a legend there? You never know what he’s going to say. That, as a TV producer, you’re interested in.” As for 62-year-old rock icon Tyler , he seemed genuinely excited about the entire process but with one concern as the show prepares for its season 10 kickoff. “The part that’s a little difficult is judging young kids,” he said this week. “It took me a couple minutes to get into the role of that, but I’ve grown accustomed to it and it’s fun and I get to sit next to J.Lo and Randy taking [the] you-know-what out of everybody.” Don’t miss our “American Idol” live stream “Judging the Judges: An ‘Idol’ Without Simon,” featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your “Idol” commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon and we could quote you on the show! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Before Steven Tyler Was An ‘American Idol’ Judge … Related Artists Steven Tyler

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‘American Idol’ Exec Says ‘Legend’ Steven Tyler Will Be Good TV

‘Amercian Idol’ Exec Says ‘Legend’ Steven Tyler Will Be Good TV

‘You never know what he’s going to say. That, as a TV producer, you’re interested in,’ Nigel Lythgoe tells MTV News. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Matt Elias Nigel Lythgoe Photo: MTV News One thing that fans of “American Idol” can count on each season is a level of unpredictability, particularly once the show narrows the contestants down to 20 and the performance rounds and weekly eliminations begin. This season has upped the unpredictability factor in the form of new and potentially wayward, wacky judge Steven Tyler. When MTV News caught up with the reality show’s returning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe , we asked if he was worried about having to censor the Aerosmith frontman. “Oh yes, [I have] every worry about that,” Lythgoe readily admitted about Tyler’s sometimes-potty mouth. “But we’re on a delay, and he’s already done it. And then he forgets that he’s not allowed to say it, so he’ll say, ‘F—! Did I say f—? Oh f—. Sorry mate.’ ” Lythgoe — who also appears as a judge on Fox’s other reality talent show, “So You Think You Can Dance”— has said that a large part of Tyler’s appeal is not being able to predict what he’ll say or do. “He has come through that whole rock and roll circus,” said Lythgoe of Tyler , whom he also hopes will perform on the show, along with judges Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, at some point. “Why wouldn’t you want a legend there? You never know what he’s going to say. That, as a TV producer, you’re interested in.” As for 62-year-old rock icon Tyler , he seemed genuinely excited about the entire process but with one concern as the show prepares for its season 10 kickoff. “The part that’s a little difficult is judging young kids,” he said this week. “It took me a couple minutes to get into the role of that, but I’ve grown accustomed to it and it’s fun and I get to sit next to J.Lo and Randy taking [the] you-know-what out of everybody.” Don’t miss our “American Idol” live stream “Judging the Judges: An ‘Idol’ Without Simon,” featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your “Idol” commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon and we could quote you on the show! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Before Steven Tyler Was An ‘American Idol’ Judge … Related Artists Steven Tyler

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‘Amercian Idol’ Exec Says ‘Legend’ Steven Tyler Will Be Good TV

5 Jennifer Lopez Movie Quotes She Should Use in Her American Idol Debut

We’re all excited for the 10th-season premiere of American Idol tonight with new judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Assertive Randy Jackson , but are we confident that J-Lo has enough of a fearsome edge to make for good contestant commentaries? I’m skeptical. To help her, let’s unearth five memorable quotes from the best in Jennifer Lopez cinema, and teach her to retool these classic quips to suit her judging needs.

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5 Jennifer Lopez Movie Quotes She Should Use in Her American Idol Debut

‘American Idol’ Fan Anthony Hopkins Loves Randy Jackson’s ‘Soul’

‘He’s so fair with everyone,’ the ‘Rite’ star tells MTV News. By Kara Warner Anthony Hopkins Photo: MTV News Anthony Hopkins is a veteran actor of the stage and screen and an Oscar winner knighted by the queen of England for his services to the arts. With so many movies to make and other important, knightly things to do, one would never think of Sir Hopkins as a super-fan of “American Idol” — yet he is. We had heard that he was a fan back in 2009, so much so that he’d happily star in a movie version of the singing reality competition . So when MTV News caught up with the esteemed thespian while he promoted his upcoming exorcism thriller “The Rite,” we had to ask if he were excited about the show’s season 10 premiere Wednesday (January 19). ” ‘American Idol’? Oh, yeah, I love all those [talent shows],” he said. “Somebody says they’re ‘chewing gum for the mind,’ but they’re entertaining. … My wife makes me watch them; I don’t,” he joked before admitting that he and his wife TiVo every episode. “I went to one or two of the shows and met Simon Cowell,” he revealed. “Somebody I really like is Randy Jackson. We became friends, although I don’t see much of him. I think we invited him to the premiere of [‘The Rite’].” Hopkins went on to say that he likes Jackson’s spirit and did a little impression of the veteran “Idol” judge’s trademark phrase. “He’s a terrific guy. I love his soul,” Hopkins said. ” ‘Hey, dawg!’ I think he’s terrific. I love his compassion, because he’s so fair with everyone.” Don’t miss our “American Idol” live stream “Judging the Judges: An ‘Idol’ Without Simon,” featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your “Idol” commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon, and we could quote you on the show! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Judges At The 2011 TCA Tour Related Artists Randy Jackson Jennifer Lopez

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‘American Idol’ Fan Anthony Hopkins Loves Randy Jackson’s ‘Soul’

Joe Jonas ‘Really Interested’ To See ‘American Idol’ Panel

‘That’s pretty intense,’ Jonas Brother says of season 10 judging changes. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Joe Jonas Photo: MTV News During the ninth season of “American Idol,” when the show was going through some lineup changes, Joe Jonas sat at the judge’s table to help Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi while the fourth seat of the panel was in flux. The seat was later filled by Ellen DeGeneres, who, along with DioGuardi and Cowell, departed at the end of the season. With a new season launching Wednesday night (January 18) and two new faces (Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler) joining Jackson at the table, Jonas admitted he’s excited to see what the show has in store. “I’m really interested to see the new panel because that’s pretty intense,” he told MTV News while in the studio with producer Danja working on his solo album . “But there’s always amazing artists that come out of there, so I always like to watch the end and the very beginning ’cause it’s always really funny to watch. So I’m sure we’ll have that on in the studio.” “AI” fans are most likely just as curious as the singer, since besides the additions to the judges table, there’s also a number of new rules this season . They include the return of the “Idol” mansion, a sudden-death round that will determine the top 10 or 12, the return of a “wild card” round, as well as a Vegas audition round, to name a few. What are you expecting from the new “Idol” season? Give us your predictions in the comments below! Don’t miss our “American Idol” live stream “Judging the Judges: An ‘Idol’ Without Simon,” featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com Wednesday (January 18) at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your “Idol” commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon, and we could quote you on the show! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Joe Jonas Related Artists Joe Jonas

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Joe Jonas ‘Really Interested’ To See ‘American Idol’ Panel

Steven Tyler Explains His ‘American Idol’ Judging Style

‘I take what I’ve grown up with, which is being a very harsh judge of myself, of my vocals, of my band,’ Aerosmith frontman says. By Kara Warner Steven Tyler Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images The “American Idol” season 10 premiere is just a day away, and to celebrate, MTV News has been rolling out our big guns, with “Idol” cheat sheets , breaking news and everything you need to know before Wednesday night’s big opener. On Tuesday (January 18), we had the opportunity to chat with new judge Steven Tyler, by way of a conference call with a handful of curious reporters. The Aerosmith frontman was just as energetic and amusing as he’s been in recent appearances, proving that his presence and commentary on the show will likely be a highlight each week. Of his experience thus far, Tyler said it has been good, adding that his judging style comes from his personal experience in the business. “I don’t take what happened to me this morning or last night or with the band … I don’t take that into judging kids [like] other people might have,” Tyler explained. “I kind of take what I’ve grown up with, which is being a very harsh judge of myself, of my vocals, of my band, and lay that across the talent that comes across my view.” Given that Tyler seems to be enjoying his new position — particularly that he gets to sit next to fellow newbie Jennifer Lopez, who he called “a fox,” — everyone wants to know how long he plans to be on the show. “I have more than a one-year contract,” Tyler revealed. “But as you know, things are what they are. But I have more than a one-year contract. I’ll give you that one.” Although we’re still far from season 11, we also got an early tip for next season’s contestants. Tyler cautioned against auditioning with Aerosmith tunes, specifically “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” — unless you can knock it out of the park. “They have to sing it good, you know. They must have sung in the seven weeks [of auditions], they probably got, you know, 15, 16 [performances of] ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,’ ” Tyler said. “It was hard for me because it always seemed to me when they said they were going to sing it, I knew someone at home was … like, ‘If you sing that song, Tyler will be enamored.’ And when I didn’t like it, I felt a little ill at ease to tell them, ‘You know what? You really didn’t sing it good.’ ” But Tyler said that if we should hear any Aerosmith on the show beyond the tryout rounds, those performances will likely be solid. “If any of them sing it now, remember we are down to 20 great people. So if they did, it would be nothing but good.” Don’t miss our “American Idol” live stream “Judging the Judges: An ‘Idol’ Without Simon,” featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com this Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your “Idol” commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon and we could quote you on the show! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Announces Its Season 10 Judges! Related Artists Steven Tyler

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Steven Tyler Explains His ‘American Idol’ Judging Style

‘American Idol’ Judge Randy Jackson: Sitting In Simon’s Chair Is ‘Weird’

‘I look down the table and I go, ‘Kara? No. Paula? No. Ellen? No. Simon? No. Where am I?’ ‘ Jackson tells MTV News of season 10. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Randy Jackson Photo: MTV News For nine seasons of “American Idol,” Simon Cowell anchored the judges’ table as a rotating cast of industry personalities cycled in and out. Paula Abdul headed for the exit after eight years, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres came and quickly went, and then Cowell himself officially departed after at least one season in which he seemed to have grown somewhat bored of the competition show. Now Randy Jackson is the last remaining original judge and has commandeered Cowell’s chair at the end of the judges’ table. But with the season 10 set to premiere on Wednesday , he’s still not totally comfortable. “It is a little weird, and sometimes I look down the table and I go, ‘Kara? No. Paula? No. Ellen? No. Simon? No. Where am I?’ ” Jackson told MTV News recently. “American Idol,” he admits, is a vastly transformed show this season. Various rules have been changed, producers talk openly about injecting new vigor into the competition, and two new faces in Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler have joined up as judges. “It’s just a different kind of show,” said Jackson. “Simon is irreplaceable. People have been saying, ‘Who’s going to be the mean one?’ Simon is still the mean one.” Yet as much as things will change this season, other elements will remain the same: sometimes the judges will be of one mind about a contestant, and at others their opinions will diverge — perhaps with a quarrel. “Jennifer, Steven and I all agree a lot [and] we disagree a lot,” he said. “You’re going to see all flavors of the rainbow because we all think sort of the same way because we’re music industry professionals.” How do you think the “Idol” judges will do without Simon? Tell us in the comments! Don’t miss our “American Idol” live stream “Judging the Judges: An ‘Idol’ Without Simon,” featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com this Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your “Idol” commentary with the hashtag #IdolWithoutSimon and we could quote you on the show! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Randy Jackson Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Judges At The 2011 TCA Tour Related Artists Randy Jackson

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‘American Idol’ Judge Randy Jackson: Sitting In Simon’s Chair Is ‘Weird’

Why Aren’t Oscar Zealots Fighting for Toy Story 3’s Best Picture Chances?

Disney’s been leading the charge on Toy Story 3 ‘s Best Picture gambit in recent weeks, arguing on behalf of its strong reviews (now, Golden Tomato-winning ), and large box office, but is it time for Oscar statisticians (e.g. the Movieline readership) to take up the fight too? It lacks the blunt-force topicality of The Social Network and the historical grandeur of The King’s Speech , but does Toy Story 3 ‘s expensive commercial triumph warrant a grassroots movement?

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Why Aren’t Oscar Zealots Fighting for Toy Story 3’s Best Picture Chances?