‘Freakier Friday’ Director Pleaded for Jodie Foster Cameo in Sequel
Original actor Jodie Foster’s unexpected appearance on the next ‘Freakier Friday’ nearly served as an homage to the franchise’s beginnings, but it didn’t work out.
The director Nisha Ganatra, of the much awaited follow-up, which stars Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, revealed that she did everything in her power to include Foster, the iconic figure from the 1976 movie that began it all. Despite their enthusiasm, Ganatra acknowledged that she and the team begged Foster to join the cast, but she eventually declined.
The idea was to give Foster a significant cameo, either as a teacher or the principal of the school that Lohan’s character, Anna, attends. Although Ganatra stated they looked into every possibility to make it work, they never found out why Foster said no.
Image Courtesy: Disney Movies
Foster, who is now 62, co-starred with Barbara Harris in the beloved original ‘Freaky Friday’, a lighthearted body-swap comedy that went on to become a Disney classic. The plot changed throughout time as a result of theatre musicals, TV movie adaptations, and the wildly popular 2003 remake starring Lohan and Curtis. For almost twenty years, that version has continued to be a favourite among fans.
In a previous interview, Foster discussed her early acting career, pointing out the difference between her gritty, Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Taxi Driver’ and her family-friendly one in ‘Freaky Friday’, both of which were released in 1976. She revealed that in order to prevent her from being typecast, her mother purposefully helped her into a range of opportunities. According to Foster, ‘Freaky Friday’ was among the first feminist movies directed towards a younger demographic, which was a progressive message for the time.
Image Courtesy: Disney Movies
‘Freakier Friday’ looks to be a lot of fun, even though Foster won’t be in the new movie. A new generation of characters, including Anna’s daughter (played by Julia Butters), her fiancé (Manny Jacinto), and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law (Sophia Hammons), are introduced in the sequel, which doubles the body-swapping insanity and reunites Lohan and Curtis as Anna and Tess Coleman.
Resuming the role was more than simply a career achievement for Lohan; it was a reunion on a personal level. She talked positively about getting back in touch with Curtis, stating that it was unique to collaborate with someone so influential in her life, both on and off screen.
‘Freakier Friday’ appears ready to delight viewers with its blend of sincere humour, family mayhem, and a new spin on a beloved classic, even though Foster’s participation would have provided a nostalgic twist.
–Farheen Ali
