Ever since the Golden Globes, where Best Supporting Actress nominee Jamie Lee Curtis told red carpet reporters that she was “ready” for a Freaky Friday sequel (her former co-star Lindsay Lohan is reportedly “committed” too), rumours have been swirling about what this long-awaited onscreen reunion could entail. But the body swap comedy we never saw coming? One starring ’90s icons Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston.
On 29 January, Deadline broke the news that the pair will indeed trade lives and likenesses in a new release written and directed by Max Barbakow. The latter is best known for his supremely delightful narrative feature debut, the Andy Samberg vehicle Palm Springs. The upcoming film, based on an original pitch by Barbakow, is still untitled and its exact plot is still unknown, but it was revealed that it will be co-produced by Roberts, Aniston and none other than Margot Robbie, through her production company, LuckyChap. (It’s set to be another busy year for the two-time Oscar nominee who has starring roles in both Barbie and Asteroid City, and is also producing Saltburn, Emerald Fennell’s follow-up to Promising Young Woman.)
Since Barbakow’s initial pitch two weeks ago, this two-hander has been the subject of a heated auction between five studios and streaming services, which was ultimately won by Amazon Studios. The reason for the frenzy, as cited by the publication, is the recent box office success of Ticket to Paradise, the Ol Parker-helmed rom-com led by Roberts and George Clooney, but it’s also evidence of Hollywood’s changing attitudes towards women over 50, who have for so long – and wrongly – been considered less bankable than their younger counterparts. Equally heartening? The women in their sixties – Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett and Jennifer Coolidge among them – who’ve been dominating this awards season with their magnetic performances and impassioned speeches. Let’s hope Roberts and Aniston get to join them on the podium soon.
