Casting Watch: Quvenzhané Wallis for 'Annie,' Saoirse Ronan Joins Ryan Gosling's Directorial Debut, Jennifer Aniston in for Bogdanovich's Latest

- Quvenzhané Wallis, the live-wire best actress nominee from "Beasts of the Southern Wild," is in contention to star in a remake of "Annie," directed by Will Gluck ("Easy A"), produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z.  Not too many details on the rehash of the 1982 hit, other than it will take a contemporary setting rather than using the Great Depression as its background. While Will Smith's daughter, Willow, was previously slated for the role, Smith said that his daughter is resisting the pressure of fame at the moment, telling him: "I have a better idea, how about I just be 12.”

- Saoirse Ronan has joined Ryan Gosling's directorial debut, "How to Catch a Monster."  No word yet on details of Ronan's role in the modern day fantasy. The Irish actress starred as the intense young fighter in Joe Wright's "Hanna," and also played the petulant younger sister in Wright's "Atonement."  She has many upcoming projects, including "The Host" (March 29) adapted from the novel by "Twilight" writer Stephenie Meyer, and Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel." Ronan joins Ben Mendelsohn ("The Dark Knight"), Christina Hendricks ("Mad Men," "Drive"), Eva Mendes, and Matt Smith ("Doctor Who").  The film will begin principal photography this May in Detroit.

- Jennifer Aniston, Eugene Levy, and Kathryn Hahn join Owen Wilson for Peter Bogdanovich's "She's Funny That Way." Formerly called "Squirrel to the Nuts," Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach will produce the film, which also features Olivia Wilde, Brie Larson, Cybil Shepard, and Jason Schwartzman.  Bogdanovich wrote "She's Funny That Way" along with his ex-wife, Louise Stratten.  The movie tells the story of a married Broadway director (Wilson) who falls in love with a former prostitute, turned actress. Principal photography will begin in June in New York.