Latest news with #MarkWaters
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Freaky Friday' director Mark Waters says he wanted to be involved in sequel but 'was not invited to the party'
The filmmaker also says he "heard from quite a few cast members" asking about his absence. Key Points Mark Waters, who directed the 2003 movie Freaky Friday, says he wanted to be a part of the sequel, Freakier Friday. According to a new interview, the filmmaker expressed his interest in serving as an executive producer or a more tertiary role. But Waters says he "was not invited to the party." Freakier Friday brought back most of the cast from its 2003 predecessor, Freaky Friday, including stars Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis — but the sequel didn't involve the original's director, Mark Waters. Waters, who also directed Lohan in Mean Girls, says that wasn't for lack of interest. "Unfortunately, I was not invited to the party," he said in a recent interview with Variety. "I did raise my hand and say I'd love to be involved somehow, even in a kind of godfather aspect or executive producer. But I was not extended an invitation." The new film was directed by Nisha Ganatra (Late Night) and has garnered positive reviews. Picking up two decades after Freaky Friday, it finds mother-daughter duo Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) once again swapping bodies, though not with each other this time. Waters said he's "very supportive of them making a great new movie," and added. "It would have been nice to be involved but now that I'm not, I sort of compartmentalize it for myself. I need to devote my energy to keep making new, original things that are going to be hits and people can remake them in 20 years. So that's what I'm doing now. You can't worry about the projects that you don't do." The director also said he "heard from quite a few cast members while they were shooting, saying, 'Where the hell are you, Waters?' I have not forsaken you! I'm sorry." Representatives for Disney, the studio behind Freaky Friday and its sequel, didn't immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment. Elsewhere in the interview, Waters addressed the original film's depiction of Asian stereotypes and the sequel's efforts to course-correct there. "I was fully aware that it was over the top," he said, "and not in the way that I was trying to insult or make fun of any group. We're doing this just to be absurd." Waters added that actress Rosalind Chao, who plays Chinese restaurant owner Pei-Pei in the two movies, "is a friend and she was in on the joke. But stepping back from it, of course it's absolutely absurd but not in a way that is mean-spirited. Not from my perspective, nor do I think most people who watch the movie think of as being mean-spirited."Waters also said he acknowledged the criticism when it arose. "I remember there was a great reviewer who loved the movie but of course called that s‑‑‑ out," he said. "[Said it] was tone deaf and a little bit over the top. But also noted it wasn't in a way that ruined their enjoyment of the movie. I definitely didn't go, 'How would you ever come up with that?' I'm like, 'They have a point.'" Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Freaky Friday' director reveals he wasn't invited back for sequel: ‘I did raise my hand'
Even the filmmakers got swapped. Mark Waters, who directed the 2003 film 'Freaky Friday' starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, has revealed that he was never even approached to return for this year's sequel. 10 Mark Waters attends the Netflix premiere of 'He's All That' at the NeueHouse in Hollywood, California, on August 25, 2021. Getty Images Advertisement 10 Mark Waters and Lindsay Lohan behind the scenes of 2003's 'Freaky Friday.' ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 'Yeah, unfortunately, I was not invited to the party,' Waters, 61, told Variety of the sequel in an interview published Friday, Aug. 15. 'I did raise my hand and say I'd love to be involved somehow, even in a kind of godfather aspect or executive producer.' 'But I was not extended an invitation,' he added. Advertisement Despite directing Lohan, 39, and Curtis, 66, in the 2003 'Freaky Friday' remake, the director role ultimately went to Nisha Ganatra when 'Freakier Friday' began production in 2024. 10 Mark Waters attends the special screening of 'Mother of the Bride' at the Bay Theater in Pacific Palisades, California, on May 8, 2024. Getty Images for Netflix 10 Mark Waters and Jamie Lee Curtis behind the scenes of 2003's 'Freaky Friday.' ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection However, the 'Mean Girls' director was not disappointed about not being asked to return, and he even supported Lohan, Curtis and the other cast members who returned for the sequel after more than 20 years. Advertisement 'I'm very supportive of them making a great new movie,' he told the outlet. 'It would have been nice to be involved, but now that I'm not, I sort of compartmentalize it for myself.' 'I need to devote my energy to keep making new, original things that are going to be hits, and people can remake them in 20 years,' Waters continued. 'So that's what I'm doing now. You can't worry about the projects that you don't do.' 10 Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman and Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman in 2003's 'Freaky Friday.' ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman and Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman in 'Freakier Friday.' ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement The 'Mr. Popper's Penguins' director also revealed that some members of the cast wondered where he was when the sequel began filming. 'It certainly would have been fun, and I heard from quite a few cast members while they were shooting, saying, 'Where the hell are you, Waters?'' he shared. 'I have not forsaken you! I'm sorry.' Picking up 22 years after Anna Coleman (Lohan) and her mother Tess (Curtis) magically swapped bodies in 'Freaky Friday,' 'Freakier Friday' follows Anna and Tess after they swap bodies once again – but this time with Anna's daughter Harper (Julia Butters) and soon-to-be stepdaughter Lily (Sophia Hammons). 10 Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman and Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman in 'Freaky Friday' (2003). ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprising their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman in 'Freakier Friday' (2025). ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection The cast is rounded out by several returning characters, including Anna's ex-boyfriend Jake (Chad Michael Murray), teacher Mr. Elton (Stephen Tobolowsky) and Anna's little brother Harry (Ryan Malgarini). After the body-swapping sequel's release on Aug. 8, it received mixed reviews – including a particularly 'harsh' write-up from Time magazine. 'No one, as far as we know, actually asked Disney for a sequel to 2003's buoyant, surprisingly unsyrupy generation-gap comedy 'Freaky Friday,'' the outlet wrote. Advertisement 10 Chad Michael Murray as Jake and Lindsay Lohan as Anna in 'Freaky Friday.' ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Chad Michael Murray, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan during the premiere of 'Freakier Friday' at the Hudson Square Theater in New York City. Johns PKI / 'This is a sequel with the sole purpose of cashing in on the fondness people have for the original movie and nothing more,' it added. Advertisement Curtis later took to the comments section of the review to defend her and Lohan's new movie. 'SEEMS a TAD HARSH,' the 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Oscar winner wrote. 'SOME people LOVE it. Me being one.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Freaky Friday' director ‘not invited' to work on ‘Freakier' sequel
LOS ANGELES — 'Freaky Friday' director Mark Waters wasn't asked to be involved in the making of the critical and commercial hit sequel, 'Freakier Friday' — despite also helming Lindsay Lohan's most enduring film yet, 2004's 'Mean Girls.' The 61-year-old 'House of Yes' filmmaker revealed to Variety that he did 'raise [his] hand' and say he'd 'love to be involved somehow,' but was 'not invited to the party.' Even if he didn't direct, Waters said he would've been happy to executive produce the follow-up to his 2003 Disney box office smash. 'I'm very supportive of them making a great new movie,' clarified the '500 Days of Summer' producer, who still considers 39-year-old Lohan a friend. 'It would have been nice to be involved but now that I'm not … I need to devote my energy to keep making new, original things that are going to be hits and people can remake them in 20 years.' Waters said that he 'heard from quite a few cast members … saying, 'Where the hell are you, Waters?' I have not forsaken you! I'm sorry.' 'Freakier Friday' takes place 21 years after the events of the original body switcheroo, with both Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis reprising their roles as daughter Anna and mom Tess, respectively. Unlike other Disney IP retreads, 'Freakier Friday' has largely delighted critics and fans alike, and has earned over $53 million at the global box office since it premiered last week.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
You Can Probably Thank a Dedicated ‘Freaky Friday' Fandom for Getting Its Sequel Released in Theaters
When you hear the words 'iconic movie,' the usual suspects tend come to mind: 'Citizen Kane,' 'Raging Bull,' 'The Godfather: Part II.' And now, 'Freakier Friday.' This is not an exaggeration: Kate Erbland's IndieWire review even gave a nod to the enduring fandom of the beloved original 2003 film 'Freaky Friday,' with Erbland writing, 'If you're of the mind that Jamie Lee Curtis should have won her first Oscar for her work in Mark Waters' film. … 'Freakier Friday' is very much for you. Simply put: Here is a legacyquel worth the wait. What a concept!' More from IndieWire You Hate AI. They Teach It Anyway. Spike Lee's 'Highest 2 Lowest' Reinvents Kurosawa in the Canyons and Subways of New York And what a concept indeed. How does anyone revisit an iconic classic film — and even arguably make it even better? In-demand screenwriter Jordan Weiss knew exactly how, and even helped land a theatrical release for the sequel that was long rumored to be for streaming only. (A representative for Disney did not confirm or deny original release plans for the film.) 'I'm so glad that it's going to be released in theaters,' Weiss told IndieWire during a recent interview. 'I feel like these big, fun event films that are especially more traditionally girly or geared towards women [should be in theaters].' Whereas Universal arguably dropped the ball by foregoing a U.S. theatrical premiere for 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' and releasing it solely on Peacock, Disney listened to the overwhelming social media excitement for a beloved franchise when 'Freakier Friday' was finally confirmed. Elyse Hollander, the screenwriter who was first announced as attached to the project in 2023 (Hollander has a co-story-by credit on the sequel, with Weiss as the sole writer), told IndieWire that the film was originally not going to be in theaters. 'I was definitely told in the early days that this is for streaming,' Hollander said. 'I think when it was announced, they [Disney executives] were pleasantly surprised by the excitement around it, and it kind of moved it up a tier of like, 'OK, this can actually become an event and something really special.'' Of course, the return of original stars Curtis — who championed the sequel for years — and Lindsay Lohan, along with fellow returning faces Chad Michael Murray and Mark Harmon, only added to the fan excitement…and, in turn, the pressure that the 'Freakier Friday' team felt when working on the feature. 'It's a big risk for everybody involved to come back. You don't want to ruin the legacy, you want add to it,' Hollander said. 'I was like, 'I cannot be responsible for ruining a beloved film and adding to a cash grab, schlock pile that would be once direct to DVD.'' Weiss, who boarded the legacy sequel in 2024 when her 'Dollface' collaborator Nisha Ganatra joined as director, credited the shared love for the 2003 'Freaky Friday' among both creatives and executives alike. 'I remember seeing 'Freaky Friday' in theaters with my mom when I was 10 years old,' Weiss said. 'I feel like I was the center of the target audience. I was a huge Lindsay Lohan fan. It was absolutely one of my favorite movies. So when when Disney called with the opportunity to come in and work on it, it was an easy, excited yes.' According to Weiss, there were certain 'non-negotiables' for 'Freakier Friday' that Disney spearheaded, such as the inclusion of rock band Pink Slip and the core cast back in lead roles. Kristin Burr and Andrew Gunn, both producers on the 2003 film, also returned for the sequel. Weiss further credited Disney SVP of development Allison Erlikhman for being integral to maintaining the 'Freaky Friday' legacy. 'It was a combination of legacy producers and millennial executives and a millennial screenwriter, who were all like, 'We either love this movie because we worked on it' or 'We were children when it came out and are obsessed with every part of it,'' Weiss said. 'I think [Allison] being of this generation and having that close tie made her such an asset as a studio executive working on this.' (For all other millennials, Erman is also working on 'Princess Diaries 3.') The financial return of releasing 'Freakier Friday' theatrically remains to be seen, but as Gen-Zers would say, millennial women are already seated. That buying power of thirtysomething women has yet to be fully realized (or at least embraced) by Hollywood, as Weiss explained. Having a female-oriented, nostalgia-driven film in theaters has historically paid off, especially in recent years. 'We saw it with 'Barbie,' we saw it with 'Wicked.' I think having that in the same way, with how every summer there is a really exciting MCU or DC release, would make sense with these big, female-driven franchises,' Weiss said. 'They are finally being given their day in theaters in that big summer blockbuster way. It just makes me so excited as a girl who loves girly pop movies.' Hollander added, 'I think what's really happening in the zeitgeist is people are actually recognizing that female-leaning IP after 'Barbie' actually has a place in the marketplace. We've done 'Transformers,' we've done 'GI Joe,' we've done 'Sonic' and all the comic book movies. So now, what does that gaze look like for us [women]?' It was actually actress/producer Curtis who had the honor of announcing to fans everywhere that 'Freakier Friday' would (thankfully) be in theaters. The Academy Award winner wrote in 2024 teasing the release, 'Yes, you heard me…The theaters. The place we all go and enjoy a shared experience in the dark while munching popcorn and candy and laughing together and sometimes crying together. Until then.' And as for the criticisms that 'everything is a remake' nowadays, let's be real: That's not new, either. 'Freaky Friday' itself was first a 1976 film based on the book by Mary Rodgers. It later became a 1995 TV movie before being once again adapted into the 2003 film that now spurred the sequel 'Freakier Friday.' However, the 'Transformers'-esque franchises aren't complained about online the same way, if at all. 'If people want to judge female franchises with a harder lens, that's nothing new either,' Hollander said. 'As women, we're always held to a higher standard, so we'll rise to the occasion.' It works so well with Weiss' 'Freakier Friday' that a third film could even be on the horizon. 'Any version of a movie that has complicated female dynamics in a fun, silly joyous way that also has magical realism devices, I'm like, 'Sign me up.' So if that means 'Freakiest Friday,' yeah, OK,' Weiss said. Prepare for more possible flack from online trolls, though. Yet Weiss is unfazed. 'The thing that is funny to me is that there's a lot of conversation now of like, 'Oh my God, everything's a reboot, everything's a sequel. I miss the '90s and early 2000s when everything was original,' and I'm like, 'Those were also all remakes,'' she said. 'There are probably so many movies that people don't realize were actually movies from the '30s or '40s. I'm like, 'Hollywood's built on it.' Maybe we're always re-innovating, but I have embraced it. I think that all of these stories are original, and you still are creating something new. We all start with a blank page.' A Walt Disney Pictures release, 'Freakier Friday' is now in theaters. 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Bloomberg
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
In Freakier Friday, Lindsay Lohan Gives the Performance We Didn't Know We Needed
To describe just how meaningful the Lindsay Lohan-Jamie Lee Curtis remake of Freaky Friday was to a 13-year-old in 2003, I'll use an anecdote. Shortly after seeing the movie with my mom, she asked me if I wanted to get a second piercing in my ear, a gesture that meant the world to an awkward tween desperate for some edge. My mom understood that Lohan in that movie was the pinnacle of cool, and that she could in turn gain some cred, just like Curtis on screen, if she submitted to my whims. Meanwhile, I got a little closer to approximating Lohan's perfect teen aura. In the early 2000s she was an influencer before that was even a term, the most famous girl in the world, who seemed destined for unstoppable greatness. That was the magic of the movie, directed by Mark Waters, which updated the body-swap plot to the early '00s with a lot of heart and a little bit of pop punk. The movie succeeded because of how equally balanced it was to the perspectives of mother and daughter—with Curtis and Lohan both turning in genius comedic performances that were funny but never felt mocking.
