It's been 19 years since 2003's Freaky Friday remake came out, but fans haven't forgotten it just yet, and it seems like the film's stars are eager to continue its legacy. According to Jamie Lee Curtis, both she and Lindsay Lohan are "committed" to making a sequel happen.
Disney's Freaky Friday was a fun, airy body swap comedy. Now a nostalgic time capsule of songs, teen angst, and styles from the era, the film starred Lohan as Anna Coleman, while Curtis played Tess Coleman. After the two have a loud verbal altercation at a restaurant, they find that they've switched bodies, and must learn to live in the other's shoes until they can return to their original bodies. Along the way, the two come to an understanding and resolve their differences, growing much closer as a result.
Variety caught up with Curtis while she was on the red carpet for the premiere of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, where she gave a tantalizing update about the possibility of a Freaky Friday sequel. “There is no scheduled date, but we’re talking,” she said. “People are talking. The right people are talking.” She addressed that it's been enough time, but that the sequel is in Disney's hands. “I’m 64 in a week and Lindsay is 36…[A sequel] lends itself so beautifully. We’re both committed to it, and it’s not ours to make. It’s Disney’s to make and I think they’re interested and we’re talking. Let’s just try to get another one made. We’re a ways away.”
Fresh off of Halloween Ends, Curtis already has experience with re-starting a film series. She has previously indicated that she's up for a Freaky Friday sequel, but these latest comments indicate just how close the film is to happening. While she conceded that it's "a ways away," she did acknowledge that the "right people are talking," indicating that at least some people are interested in the idea over at Disney.
The film could be a fun one. Sure, if a Freaky Friday sequel is made, it would've taken longer to make than Avatar: The Way of Water, but the period lends itself to more opportunities for storytelling. It would take a few years for the script to be completed, production to begin, and filming to take place. It'll have been more than 20 years since the first film was released, and perhaps it could incorporate Anna's daughter.
Focusing on the next generation would make sense. Anna, Tess, and a hypothetical new granddaughter character switching bodies would provide fodder for plenty of new gags and commentary on generational divides. Perhaps a Freaky Friday sequel could even serve as a jumping-off point for a new up-and-coming actress.
Freaky Friday is now available on Disney Plus.
Source: Variety