Mark Waters, who directed Freaky Friday, has shared his thoughts on not being asked to return for the sequel.
A sequel was not foreseen by Mark Waters' fortune cookie. Despite the fact that original cast members Lindsay Lohan (Anna), Jamie Lee Curtis (Tess), Chad Michael Murray (Jake), Stephen Tobolowsky (Mr. Bates), and Ryan Malgarini (Harry) all reprised their roles, the director of the 2003 Freaky Friday film disclosed that he was not asked to helm the 2025 sequel.
Mark stated, "Unfortunately, I was not invited to the party," in an August 15 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."
However, the Mean Girls director later admitted that he "never developed" his own concept for a sequel and was still pleased to learn that the comedy sequel, which debuted in theaters on August 8, would proceed without him.
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Regarding the sequel, which was helmed by Nisha Ganatra, he clarified, "I’m very supportive of them making a great new movie," "It would have been nice to be involved but now that I’m not, I sort of compartmentalize it for myself."
Furthermore, the 61-year-old feels that producing fresh tales that endure is a greater use of his talent.
"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," Mark clarified. "So that’s what I’m doing now. You can’t worry about the projects that you don’t do."
Plus, he still got to feel the love from the original Freaky Friday actors.
"I heard from quite a few cast members while they were shooting, saying, 'Where the hell are you, Waters?'" Mark joked that he answered, "I have not forsaken you! I’m sorry."
Additionally, he has not completely ruled out working with Lindsay again, whom he also helmed in the 2004 adolescent hit Mean Girls. "We reconnected recently in New York when she was shooting a Netflix film," Mark stated. "When we hung out recently, we did say it would be fun to find an excuse to do something together."
