According to The Hollywood Reporter, a sequel to the 2003 version of ‘Freaky Friday’ is in development, with both Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in talks to reprise their roles. Nisha Ganatra has been chosen by Disney to direct the sequel to the family comedy.
The original film starred Curtis and Lohan as a mother and daughter who swap bodies and lives. While both actors have expressed interest in a sequel for years, serious discussions about the project have only recently begun. Curtis even shared a photo of herself and Lohan on Instagram.
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Andrew Gunn, who produced the 2003 movie, is set to produce the sequel alongside former Disney executive Kristin Burr, with Ann Marie Sanderlin as executive producer. The release strategy for the film, whether it will premiere in theaters or on Disney+, has not yet been decided. The initial concept for the sequel was developed by Elyse Hollander.
Based on a 1972 children’s novel by Mary Rodgers, the ‘Freaky Friday’ franchise first hit screens in 1976, with Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster in the lead roles. Each episode aimed to explore the concept of empathy by placing characters in each other’s shoes. Since Lohan is now older, Jordan Weiss’s revised script is said to take a multigenerational approach to the story.
Ganatra is known for her work on shows like ‘And Just Like That…’ and ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, where she brings a light touch. Her feature film credits include ‘Late Night’, a comedy starring Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson set in the late-night talk show world, and ‘The High Note’, a romantic drama set in the music industry starring Dakota Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross.