Ed Sheeran Plays Little Orphan Annie—Watch!

Jimmy Kimmel Live! teases a new ABC musical special

By Zach Johnson Aug 29, 2014 11:40 AMTags

What are the requirements to play the titular role in Annie?

According to Jimmy Kimmel, all a person needs is red hair! The comic recruited singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran to participate in a bit about the beloved musical on Thursday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

"NBC announced recently they're planning a live televised production of the musical Peter Pan, and what's infesting 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," the 46-year-old late night host told his studio audience. "That's great, but tonight I have the honor of announcing that my network, ABC, has decided to top them."

"On Nov. 3, we will be hearing a lie production of the musical Annie," he said, "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!"

Sheeran, 23, wore the character's iconic red dress. He walked on stage with a dog, Sandy.

"Annie is furrier than Sandy, it turns out!" Kimmel joked.

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Kimmel was kidding about ABC's Annie adaptation, of course, but on Dec. 19, Columbia Pictures will release a remake of its own 1982 theatrical film and Disney's 1999 made-for-TV movie. Quvenzhané Wallis plays the titular role, while Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx co-star.

Peter Pan Live!, meanwhile, airs Dec. 4 on NBC. In addition to Williams, it also stars Christopher Walken as Captain Hook and Christian Borle as Mr. Smee/George Darling. The full cast has yet to be announced.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)