'We Begged Her:' Original Freaky Friday Star Refused To Appear In Upcoming Sequel

Aaron Fonseca
Apr 30
2 min read

Fans of Freaky Friday shouldn't hold their breath when it comes to seeing one original franchise star making a cameo appearance in the sequel, Freaky Friday. Nisha Ganatra, the sequel's director, revealed how hard she tried to get the actor to return.

Long before Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis starred in the 2003 theatrical film, a young Jodie Foster launched the franchise as Annabel Andrews in the original Disney adaptation of Mary Rodgers' 1972 novel. Despite being the star that catapulted Freaky Friday to worldwide recognition, Foster doesn't seem to have any interest in returning. "We begged her," Ganatra told Entertainment Weekly. "She's not going to do it."

People went on to report how Ganatra had a plan ready for Foster to make a nostalgic cameo in Freakier Friday. "We were going to make her the principal at the school," the filmmaker explained. "Honestly, we tried everything." She also claimed that she "never found out why" Foster declined a cameo appearance. Foster's version of Freaky Fridaydebuted in 1977, from Buena Vista Distribution.

The film featured Foster opposite Barbara Harris as Ellen Andrews. The movie was released to positive reviews and became a box office success, pulling in $36 million against a $5 million budget. It was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for both Foster and Harris.

Freakier Friday will be the seventh overall film in the franchise, following 2018's musical television film and Disney Channel original movie that starred Cozi Zuehlsdorff and Heidi Blickenstaff. For most modern audiences, though, Freaky Fridaybrings to mind Lohan and Curtis's adaptation. The two are set to reprise their respective roles from the original film when the sequel hits theaters in August.

Freaky Friday Sequel Features Several Returning Cast Members

When Freakier Friday debuts, it will be over 20 years since the original film hit screens, but thankfully for fans, several actors from the original are confirmed to be making appearances, with many returning as their 2003 characters. Rosalind Chao will once again star as Pei-Pei, the Chinese restaurant owner who helped Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) switch bodies. Chad Michael Murray will also appear as Jake, Anna's former boyfriend.

New cast members for Freakier Friday include Julia Butters as Harper Coleman, Anna's daughter who ends up in Anna's body, with Sophia Hammons as Lily Davies, Anna's soon-to-be stepdaughter who ends up in Tess's body. The Acolyte and The Good Place star Manny Jacinto will also join the cast as Eric Davies, Anna's new fiancé and Lily's father.