Classic Roles Revisited: The Return of Tess and Anna Coleman
No one saw this coming: it’s been over two decades since Freakier Friday’s predecessor, and the hype is real. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are slipping back into their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman, but there’s a new challenge—this time, the body-swapping shenanigans span two generations. Even before opening day, fans are buzzing about the promise of comedy, nostalgia, and a few cringeworthy family moments for the ages.
The story doesn’t just do a rerun of the old formula. Anna is now a single mom, trying to keep up with her teenage daughter Harper, played by Julia Butters (if you saw her in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, you know she brings the chops). Anna’s love life gets complicated—she falls for Eric, a charming English chef with some perfectly tousled hair (shoutout to Manny Jacinto). His daughter, Lily, is somehow Harper’s high school nemesis. Yeah, family dinner’s going to be awkward.
At said dinner, Disney goes wild: a double body swap shakes up the room. This isn’t just mother and daughter; it’s Tess swapping with Harper and Anna switching with Lily. Curtis and Lohan put their comedic timing on show, bouncing off the new cast. Watching them try to nail Gen Z slang or negotiate modern teen drama is pure gold.
The Cast, Behind the Scenes, and the Soundtrack Glow-Up
The team behind Freakier Friday didn’t hold back on nostalgia. You’ll spot Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Rosalind Chao, Christina Vidal Mitchell, and a few more faces from the original. Not to mention some new energy—Maitreyi Ramakrishnan jumps in, adding another layer to the chaos. Returning director Nisha Ganatra gives the whole thing a brisk, fun pace, keeping the goofy spirit of Disney comedies but updating it to match today’s families.
The chemistry between Curtis and Lohan? Still electric. Curtis laughed about how easy it was to step back into Tess: “We slipped right back into these characters like they were old shoes.” For Lohan, playing a mom on screen after becoming one in real life gave her lines a new edge. She said, “There's a depth to the mother-daughter dynamic that hits differently twenty years later.”
Filming happened in summer 2024, so don’t expect old-school LA—think today’s neighborhoods and digital-age dilemmas. The Los Angeles premiere is set for July 22, 2025 at the storied El Capitan Theatre—so yes, there’ll be red carpet glamour and probably some viral TikToks from the stars.
And yes, they brought back “Take Me Away,” that anthem from the fictional Pink Slip band in the original movie. This time it’s juiced up for a new audience, with the single dropping weeks before release. You just know fans will be singing along in the theaters again.
Early reactions paint Freakier Friday as both a love letter to long-time fans and a fresh, watchable family comedy. Variety called the movie “a pleasant hum” and praised its blend of old and new. Unlike the 2018 reboot, this is a direct sequel for those who grew up swapping places with their moms, if only in their daydreams. It gives new riffs on family, love, and the hilariously weird ways parents and teens try — and fail — to understand each other.
Arlen Fitzpatrick
My name is Arlen Fitzpatrick, and I am a sports enthusiast with a passion for soccer. I have spent years studying the intricacies of the game, both as a player and a coach. My expertise in sports has allowed me to analyze matches and predict outcomes with great accuracy. As a writer, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and love for soccer with others, providing insights and engaging stories about the beautiful game. My ultimate goal is to inspire and educate soccer fans, helping them to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the sport.
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