Back in 2003, Freaky Friday hit theaters with Lindsay Lohan as the rebellious Anna Coleman, Jamie Lee Curtis as her no-nonsense mom Tess, and Chad Michael Murray as the swoon-worthy Jake.
It was the kind of family comedy that stuck in pop culture’s memory – and now, 22 years later, the gang’s back for Freakier Friday, a brand-new sequel hitting theaters Friday, Aug. 8, after a glittery Los Angeles premiere on July 22.
The original was based on the 1972 novel and had already been adapted in different formats, but the 2003 version became an instant classic. This time, much of the original cast is reprising their roles, and it’s wild to see how much they’ve done since then.
Lindsay Lohan has come full circle since her Freaky Friday teen role. Right after playing Anna, she became a millennial icon with Mean Girls, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and Herbie: Fully Loaded. Now, she’s back on the big screen, ready to bring Anna into a whole new chapter – complete with a daughter in the storyline.
Jamie Lee Curtis was already a Hollywood legend in 2003, but since then, she’s gone on to dominate TV and film, winning an Academy Award in 2023 for Everything Everywhere All at Once and picking up an Emmy in 2024 for her role in The Bear. She’s returning as Tess Coleman, now with even more comedic and dramatic chops.
Chad Michael Murray, the ultimate early-2000s heartthrob, returns as Jake. After his Freaky Friday days, he led One Tree Hill, appeared in Gilmore Girls, and starred in Another Cinderella Story. Recently, he’s been seen in The CW’s Sullivan’s Crossing and Netflix’s Mother of the Bride.
Mark Harmon’s role as Ryan, Tess’s fiancé in the original, came just before his long run as Gibbs on NCIS, which turned him into a household name.
Ryan Malgarini, who played Anna’s little brother Harry, went on to star in How to Eat Fried Worms and Go Figure before taking on other film and TV roles.
Haley Hudson and Christina Vidal, who played Anna’s friends Peg and Maddie, are also back. Hudson appeared in Marley and Me, Weeds, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, while Vidal went on to Code Black, Training Day, and Primo.
The sequel isn’t just a nostalgia trip – there are fresh faces too. Julia Butters plays Harper Coleman, Anna’s daughter, bringing Gen Z energy into the mix. Sophia Hammons appears as Lily Davies, Anna’s soon-to-be stepdaughter, while The Good Place star Manny Jacinto steps in as Eric Davies, Anna’s fiancé.
With the mix of original stars and new talent, Freakier Friday is shaping up to be a rare reboot that blends nostalgia with a fresh spin. Fans of the 2003 classic can expect plenty of callbacks but also a story that reflects how the characters – and their actors – have grown. And after two decades of career milestones, awards, and personal transformations, this cast reunion is set to hit both the funny bone and the feels.
The original movie was all about switching perspectives. This sequel? It’s about reconnecting with old favorites, seeing where life has taken them, and watching them navigate a whole new set of chaotic, heartfelt challenges.
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