The official trailer for the remake of Annie was released March 5.
View this video on YouTube
Upon finding that Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis had been cast as Annie, some were seemingly appalled.
Really? Black #annie ?
Since when is Annie & Daddy Warbucks black..? #Annie2014
I Black #Annie WTF!! Why not do a movie of a [White] Martin Luther King...it too would be stupid!!!
Naw, you guys are right, they should have at least warned us by changing the name to Blannie. #Annie
http://t.co/zOoNCBDeLI Yo they're coming out with a new #Annie Movie!!! oh this is bringing me back.. Only problem is Annie wasn't black!!
So this #Annie movie is all wrong. I wanna live in a colorless world but I will not stand for a black Annie. #EnoughSaid
Wallis' skin color apparently was not the only point of contention.
RT @JAErickson: Why Couldn't Jay-Z and Will Smith remake #Annie and still keep her a lil' white redhead? This looks horrendous. < :/
Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan I don't have a problem with #Annie being black, I have a problem with Annie not being ginger with freckles
They've remade #Annie??? This is truly a sad day for the #ginger population... http://t.co/AxsxNHL5a4
"@ENews: trailer for #Annie is here! http://t.co/pWaF0OoXqE" This is so offensive! Her hair isn't nearly red enough! #scandal
Many responded in the movie's defense.
Hey people pissed off about #Annie remake we'll give you back that role when you give us back Cleopatra, Alexandre Dumas and Jesus...lmbo
if you're mad because the remake of #annie has an actress who isn't white, freckled, red haired.. please drown yourself in the nearest pool.
so what if the new Annie is black? I love this musical I am super excited they've made a movie! oh yay #anniemovie
White racists can enjoy to old #Annie. Black racist can enjoy the new one. And the rest of us can enjoy both. #Solution
No amount of backlash can trump a young girl seeing a black #Annie and feeling, briefly, at home in her skin. #Representation is everything.