Cameron Diaz is ready to make it a hard-knock life for Annie. The actress has just secured the role of Miss Hannigan in the long-simmering "Annie" remake.

Prior to nabbing the part, Sandra Bullock had been the rumored frontrunner for the mean-spirited, often drunken matron who runs the orphanage in the story. Deadline reports that Diaz will now fill it, acting alongside Oscar-nominated "Beasts Of The Southern Wild" star Quvenzhane Wallis, who will play the lead role of Annie in the updated version of the classic musical.

In addition to "Annie," Diaz has several other projects in the works, including "The Counselor," "The Other Woman" and "Sex Tape."

[article id="1656734"]Jay-Z and Will Smith have teamed up[/article] to help produce the flick, which will reportedly also star Jamie Foxx as Daddy Warbucks (or Benjamin Stack this time around), the man who eventually takes in little orphan Annie. Will Gluck ("Easy A," "Friends With Benefits") is on board to direct. The film is expected to hit theaters Christmas 2014.

When the film was first announced in January 2011, Will's daughter, Willow Smith, was originally intended for Annie. (At the time, Hova said in a statement at that "we're developing a true superstar in Willow.")

However, Wallis eventually landed the part. "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," Columbia Pictures' Hannah Minghella said in a statement about the young actress.