Hard Mock Life: See Ed Sheeran Dressed as ‘Annie’ in ‘Kimmel’ Spoof
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 they’re planning a live televised production of the musical Peter Pan, and what’s interesting about that is Peter Pan will be played by the very talented Allison Williams who is a woman, she’s on the HBO show Girls,” Kimmel said. “That’s great, but tonight I have the honor of announcing that my network, ABC, has decided to top them. On November 3rd, we will be having a 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 Annie’s famed red dress. Sheeran made it one note into the musical’s most famous number “Tomorrow” before admitting “I can’t 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 Wild star Quvenzhané 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 won’t be in that film in any capacity.