In a candid reflection shared during the promotion of her latest French film Vie Privée at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, Jodie Foster offered rare insight into her thoughts on comedy and her decision to pass on the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday. The two-time Oscar winner, who starred in the original 1976 version, commended Jamie Lee Curtis for stepping into the lead role, calling her casting “the correct decision” and acknowledging Curtis’s superior comedic talent. This revelation sheds light on a pivotal moment in the Disney franchise’s history, highlighting the chemistry and success that defined the 2003 film starring Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. This article explores Foster’s comments, the casting journey of Freaky Friday, the film’s impact, and why Curtis’s performance has resonated as a benchmark in family comedy.

Foster’s Reflection on Comedy and Curtis

Jodie Foster, now 62, has long been celebrated for her dramatic prowess, earning Academy Awards for The Accused (1988) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). However, her early career included lighter fare, notably the 1976 Freaky Friday, where she played a teenage girl who swaps bodies with her mother, portrayed by Barbara Harris. Speaking to Variety at Cannes, Foster revealed her ambivalence toward comedy, stating, “It’s hard for me to be fascinated with comedy for longer than a week. After about a week, I’m like, ‘Oh, can we get this thing over already?’ They’re much harder to make than dramas.” This perspective underscores her decision to decline a cameo in the 2025 sequel Freakier Friday, citing her busy schedule with Vie Privée, but she also hinted at a deeper discomfort with the genre.

In contrast, Foster praised Jamie Lee Curtis, saying, “Jamie Lee Curtis is better at comedy than I am.” This acknowledgment came with an endorsement of Curtis’s casting in the 2003 remake, where she played Tess Coleman, a mother who swaps bodies with her daughter Anna, played by Lohan. Foster’s comments suggest she saw Curtis’s natural flair for humor as a perfect match, a sentiment echoed by the film’s director, Mark Waters, who noted Curtis’s ability to bring “unmatched energy” to the role. This rare public nod from Foster, a close friend of Curtis, highlights a mutual respect that has grown over decades, further evidenced by Curtis’s emotional tribute to Foster at the 2024 Oscars.

The Casting Saga of Freaky Friday 2003

The journey to cast Freaky Friday 2003 was fraught with twists, beginning with producer Andrew Gunn’s initial outreach to Foster. Having originated the daughter role in 1976, Foster was a logical choice to play the mother in the remake. However, she declined, concerned that her involvement might be seen as a “distracting stunt,” potentially overshadowing the film’s narrative. This decision allowed her to focus on family and dramatic projects, a choice she later reflected on as aligning with her career shift after years as a child actor. Gunn then turned to Annette Bening, who was cast alongside Michelle Trachtenberg but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts with Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

With production looming and just four days before filming began in 2002, Jamie Lee Curtis entered the picture. Recommended by casting director Marcia Ross based on her comedic turn in True Lies (1994), Curtis brought a last-minute dynamism to the role. She told People in May 2025, “I found out I was going to be in Freaky Friday two days before they started shooting because someone else dropped out.” This serendipitous casting proved fortuitous, as Curtis’s chemistry with Lohan, secured after a lukewarm audition buoyed by her The Parent Trap (1998) success, became the film’s cornerstone. The rapid decision-making process, while risky, paid off, setting the stage for a cultural hit.

The Film’s Success and Curtis’s Performance

Released on August 6, 2003, by Walt Disney Pictures, Freaky Friday grossed over $160 million worldwide against a $26 million budget, a testament to its broad appeal. The story follows Tess and Anna, whose body swap via enchanted fortune cookies forces them to navigate each other’s lives, culminating in mutual understanding before Tess’s wedding. Critics lauded the film, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an 88% approval rating based on 157 reviews and a 7/10 average. Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars, praising Curtis’s “best work ever” as she embodied a teenager in an adult body, while Entertainment Weekly called her performance “glorious.”

Curtis’s comedic timing shone through in scenes like her awkward attempt at teenage slang or her rock band performance, drawing comparisons to Tom Hanks in Big (1988). Lohan complemented this with a mature portrayal of Tess, their interplay earning Curtis a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. The film’s success spawned a franchise, with a sequel, Freakier Friday, set for August 8, 2025, reuniting Curtis and Lohan. Foster’s absence from the original cast, and her refusal of a cameo as a school principal in the sequel, as revealed by director Nisha Ganatra, underscores her belief that Curtis was the right choice all along.

The Evolution of the Freaky Friday Franchise

The Freaky Friday franchise began with the 1976 film, a box office success grossing $36 million on a $5 million budget, earning Golden Globe nominations for Foster and Harris. Its body-swap premise, based on Mary Rodgers’s novel, inspired a 1995 TV remake with Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffmann, and a 2018 Disney Channel musical with Heidi Blickenstaff and Cozi Zuehlsdorff. The 2003 version, however, elevated the concept with modern humor and a star-driven cast, outpacing its predecessors in both earnings and critical acclaim. The upcoming Freakier Friday expands the narrative, introducing a four-way swap involving Anna’s daughter and stepdaughter, directed by Ganatra and written by Jordan Weiss.

Foster’s early role established the franchise’s foundation, but her reluctance to revisit it reflects a deliberate career pivot. Curtis, meanwhile, has embraced the legacy, her 2022 pitch to Disney for a sequel gaining traction after online buzz. Lohan’s enthusiasm, expressed in November 2022, sealed the project, with filming confirmed for 2024. This evolution highlights a shift from Foster’s child-star origins to Curtis’s mature comedic reign, a transition Foster herself endorses.

Cultural Impact and Personal Dynamics

Freaky Friday 2003 tapped into generational divides, offering a relatable portrayal of mother-daughter tensions that resonated globally. Its soundtrack, featuring Pink Slip’s performances, and cameos like Marc McClure from the 1976 film, added nostalgic layers. Curtis and Lohan’s 22-year friendship, detailed in Entertainment Weekly’s 2025 cover story, fueled the sequel’s authenticity, with Curtis noting, “I’ve watched Lindsay walk through life” since she was 15. This bond contrasts with Foster’s more guarded persona, who, despite her friendship with Curtis, prioritizes dramatic roles.

Foster’s comments also reflect a broader narrative about Hollywood’s typecasting risks. Her early duality—playing Iris in Taxi Driver (1976) alongside Freaky Friday—mirrors Curtis’s later versatility, from horror in Halloween to comedy in A Fish Called Wanda (1988). By passing on the remake, Foster avoided potential pigeonholing, a move her mother encouraged, as she told NPR in 2002. Curtis, however, thrived in the comedic space, her Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) proving her range.

Looking Ahead

As Freakier Friday approaches, Foster’s praise for Curtis adds intrigue to the franchise’s legacy. Her decision to step back, coupled with her busy schedule, suggests a focus on projects like Vie Privée, while Curtis and Lohan prepare to explore new family dynamics. The incident at Buckingham Palace in July 2025, where Princess Kate intervened to welcome Foster, further ties her to global cultural moments, though unrelated to the film. For now, Curtis’s reign as the Freaky Friday matriarch continues, validated by Foster’s rare endorsement.

Jodie Foster’s acknowledgment of Jamie Lee Curtis as the ideal choice for Freaky Friday 2003 celebrates a casting triumph that shaped a beloved comedy. As the sequel nears, this moment of mutual respect underscores the film’s enduring appeal, inviting fans to revisit a classic and anticipate its next chapter on August 8, 2025.