Freaky Friday Director Addresses Why He Didn’t Return for Sequel

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Mark Waters‘ fortune cookie did not predict a sequel. 

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share my disappointment when I learned that the director who brought our beloved 2003 “Freaky Friday” to life didn’t get the chance to steer the ship for the 2025 sequel, “Freakier Friday.” It’s a bittersweet pill to swallow, knowing that Lindsay Lohan (Anna), Jamie Lee Curtis (Tess), Chad Michael Murray (Jake), Stephen Tobolowsky (Mr. Bates), and Ryan Malgarini (Harry) are all set to return, yet our original helmsman won’t be joining them on this journey.

In the same interview with Variety on August 15th, Mark mentioned that he wasn’t invited to the party. He also expressed his desire to contribute in some capacity, perhaps as a godfather figure or executive producer, but unfortunately, no invitation was extended to him.

However, despite being the director of Mean Girls, he admitted later that he hadn’t personally created a concept for a sequel. Yet, his joy remained unchanged upon learning that another hilarious continuation, released in theaters on August 8, was being developed without his involvement.

He expressed his strong support for the upcoming movie being a fantastic sequel. About the director, Nisha Ganatra, he mentioned this during his explanation. Although he wished he could be part of it, given the circumstances, he separates it in his mind as something he’s not directly involved with.

Instead, he feels his abilities are best utilized by creating fresh narratives that will endure for future generations.

Mark clarified that his focus is on creating innovative, enduring works which might be replicated in two decades. Currently, he’s fully engaged in this endeavor. He suggested that it’s unnecessary to fret over opportunities missed.

Plus, he still got to feel the love from the original Freaky Friday actors.

During filming, I kept hearing from several cast members asking where I was, saying something like ‘Hey, Waters, where have you been?’ To that, I joked back saying, ‘Don’t worry, I haven’t abandoned you! I apologize for any inconvenience.’

He hasn’t completely dismissed the idea of collaborating again with Lindsay, whom he previously worked with on the 2004 teen movie “Mean Girls.

Mark mentioned that they ran into each other in New York not long ago, as she was filming a movie for Netflix. He added that their recent meeting made him think it’d be enjoyable to come up with an opportunity for them to spend time together again.

For more on what went down behind the scenes of Freaky Friday, keep reading. 

The 2003 movie “Freaky Friday” is actually the second remake of Mary Rodgers’ 1972 novel with the same title. The first adaptation hit the big screen in 1976, and a television version was produced in 1995.

In the movie’s production, Andrew Gunn contacted Jodie Foster, who famously portrayed Annabel in the 1976 film, with the idea of having her play the mother role. However, Foster declined the offer due to worries that her involvement might create unwanted attention.

Annette Bening had initially been chosen to portray the character Tess Coleman, but unfortunately she had to withdraw from the project just five days prior to when filming was scheduled to commence.

Following her success as the inaugural “scream queen” in the movie “Halloween,” Jamie Lee Curtis believed her leading role days might be over, but then director Mark Waters proposed replacing Bening, offering her a new opportunity to shine once more on the big screen.

In an interview with the Telegraph in 2003, Curtis stated that he openly shared his age (which was 44), his slightly overweight build, his naturally grey hair that he didn’t color, and his contentment with life. He also mentioned that in this line of work, he had always understood when it was time to gracefully retire from the spotlight.

5. After reading the script and conferring with Waters, Curtis opted to assume the matriarchal character-going as far as dying her hair and mastering the guitar-which ultimately rejuvenated her career. As she put it, this transition symbolized the power of relinquishing control and embracing a sense of freedom.

Following her standout performance in “The Parent Trap,” Lindsay Lohan stepped away from the spotlight for a while, confessing that she found herself thrown off balance by her sudden rise to stardom.

In 2003, she expressed to IGN that the sudden success of “The Parent Trap” was astounding, and she yearned for a normal life. So, she attended high school and participated in two productions on the Disney Channel to maintain her momentum but with a desire for a more ordinary experience.

But when she came across the script for Freaky Friday, Lohan knew it was “perfect” for her.

Initially, Lindsay Lohan wasn’t the first choice for the role of Anna. She had to outperform four other actresses to secure the part. At first, director John Waters wasn’t particularly impressed with her audition, calling it “the worst of the five” in a 2005 episode of “True Hollywood Story” on TopMob. However, he later acknowledged that Lohan had a star quality about her, with an intense turbulence and energy that was intriguing for the character.

Initially, Kelly Osbourne was chosen to portray Lohan’s friend in the movie, but due to Sharon Osbourne, her mother, being diagnosed with colon cancer, the reality star chose not to participate in the film.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan in 2013, Osbourne stated that he had to decide between pursuing his career or spending the potentially final moments of his mother’s life with her. Faced with this difficult choice, he chose to prioritize his mother, saying, “Career, goodbye; Mother, hello.” As a result, he became her full-time caregiver.

In the movie, Lindsay Lohan shared her first on-screen kiss with Chad Michael Murray, portraying her character’s love interest Jake. Speaking in an interview, she revealed, “By the 15th take, I wasn’t too nervous anymore!

10. During an interview on Busy Tonight in 2019, Murray admitted that he also shared a kiss with Curtis off-camera to help calm Lohan’s nerves before their on-screen kiss. When Curtis invited both of them into her trailer to try and ease the tension before filming started, Murray recounted that she “pulled me in for a kiss.” His response? “Wow, I just kissed Jamie Lee Curtis! This is fantastic!

Tom Selleck was initially chosen to portray Tess’ boyfriend Ryan, but later had to withdraw from the production following Bening’s departure. Subsequently, Mark Harmon stepped into the role, and he and Curtis developed a strong friendship. The actress later made several guest appearances on Harmon’s popular CBS series, NCIS.

Amir Derakh, a band member of Orgy, instructed Curtis and Lohan on playing the guitar. Later, Lohan used this skill to record her debut song, “Ultimate,” for the soundtrack.

13. In the final scene, Lindsay Lohan’s mother and former manager, Dina Lohan, makes a brief appearance as a wedding guest.

In the 1976 film, Marc McClure, known for his role as Annabel’s romantic interest, briefly appears under the character of Boris, a delivery man.

In an imaginative conclusion, Ryan Malgarini as Harry and Harold Gould as Grandpa open their fortunes that cause body-swapping, right before an earthquake strikes, hinting at the possibility of a follow-up story.

Discussion about a possible sequel grew intense when Curtis hinted at reprising her role as Tess during a 2022 press event for Halloween Ends in Mexico City, stating, “Yes, I will definitely be returning to the role.” Additionally, she shared some insights on her relationship with Lohan, revealing that she often verifies Lohan’s text messages to ensure they aren’t part of a scam.

Curtis reminisced about a memorable scene from the movie, where they were both enjoying French fries in the car. They were trying to memorize a specific rap within a Justin Timberlake song titled “Like I Love You.” In their attempt, they would play and rewind the tape multiple times, writing down the lyrics together.

Approximately three months prior to the 20th anniversary of the initial movie, TopMob News reported that Curtis and Lohan were likely to exchange bodies again. As Lohan shared with People magazine, “We usually chat almost every other day anyway,” indicating they’re looking forward to having a good time with this sequel.

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2025-08-15 23:17