Disney is gearing up for a new installment in the beloved Freaky Friday franchise. Director Nisha Ganatra, known for her work on Hulu's Welcome to Chippendales, has been chosen to helm the sequel to the 2003 family comedy. The project is gaining momentum and is scheduled to begin filming in Los Angeles this summer.
Original stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are currently in talks to reprise their roles as the mother-daughter duo who swap bodies and lives in the film. Both actors have expressed interest in a sequel for years, with recent negotiations finally moving the project forward. Curtis even shared a photo with Lohan on Instagram, hinting at their potential return.
The 2003 Freaky Friday movie, produced by Andrew Gunn, was a hit and spawned a successful franchise that includes multiple films and a Broadway adaptation. Based on Mary Rogers' 1972 book, the original 1976 adaptation starred Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster.
The upcoming sequel, penned by Jordan Weiss, aims to bring a fresh, multi-generational approach to the story. While Lohan has transitioned from her teen years, her recent success in Netflix romantic comedies like Irish Wish has positioned her for a comeback. Curtis, on the other hand, is riding high on her recent Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once and the success of the Halloween trilogy reboot.
Ganatra, known for her light touch in both series and feature films, brings a wealth of experience to the project. Her work on shows like And Just Like That… and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as well as films like Late Night and The High Note, showcases her ability to blend humor and heart in storytelling.
It remains to be seen whether the Freaky Friday sequel will have a theatrical release or debut on Disney+. With a talented team behind the camera and the potential return of its original stars, fans of the franchise can look forward to another entertaining installment that puts a modern twist on the classic tale of walking in someone else's shoes.
