Jamie Lee Curtis is having a moment that just won't quit. Honestly, after her Oscar win, most actors would probably kick back and do some prestige voiceover work, but she’s out here filming car chases and body-swap gags like it’s 2003 again. If you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately, you’ve likely seen the buzz about the new movie with Jamie Lee Curtis, which is officially titled Freakier Friday.
It’s been over twenty years since Tess and Anna Coleman swapped lives via a cursed fortune cookie. Now, Disney is finally bringing the band back together—literally. But this isn’t just a "nostalgia for the sake of nostalgia" cash grab. There’s actually a lot more moving parts to this production than the teaser trailers let on.
The Freakier Friday Reality Check
The internet loves a comeback story, but there’s a lot of misinformation floating around about what this sequel actually is. First off, it’s not a reboot. It is a direct continuation.
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Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are both back as Tess and Anna. The story picks up with Anna now having a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. Basically, the "identity crisis" is going multigenerational. Lightning is striking twice, but instead of just two people swapping, the family dynamic is getting way more complicated.
The film is directed by Nisha Ganatra, who you might know from Late Night. She’s got a specific eye for female-led comedies that don't feel like they were written by a boardroom. That’s a good sign.
Who Else is Showing Up?
It's not just the leads. Disney actually managed to snag most of the original supporting cast.
- Mark Harmon is back as Ryan (yes, he’s still the dream stepdad).
- Chad Michael Murray returns as Jake, which is basically the millennial equivalent of a Beatles reunion.
- Rosalind Chao and Lucille Soong are returning as the mother-daughter duo from the Chinese restaurant.
New faces are joining the chaos too. Julia Butters, who was incredible in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is playing a major role. Manny Jacinto is also in the mix, which, let's be real, makes any movie better.
Why This Release Matters for Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis has spent the last few years being the "Queen of Scream" and the "Mother of the Multiverse." But Freakier Friday represents a return to her comedic roots that a lot of younger fans might not even realize she has.
She's been the driving force behind this sequel. For years, she’s been the one pestering Disney to get it made. She even told the press that she was writing letters to the studio heads. That kind of passion is rare for a sequel this late in the game. It’s not just a paycheck for her; it’s a legacy project.
The movie is currently slated for a theatrical release on August 8, 2025.
That’s a big deal. Disney has been sending a lot of their mid-budget comedies straight to Disney+ lately. Putting this in theaters shows they think it’s got enough "legs" to compete with summer blockbusters.
Beyond the Body Swap: Jamie Lee Curtis in 2026
If you think Freakier Friday is the only thing on her plate, you haven't been paying attention. Jamie is pivoting hard into the "prestige TV" world while keeping her film career alive.
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She’s currently gearing up for a massive role in the Amazon Prime series Scarpetta. She’s starring alongside Nicole Kidman. They play sisters—Curtis is Dorothy and Kidman is the legendary forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta. That’s scheduled to drop on March 11, 2026. It’s based on the Patricia Cornwell novels, which have sold over 120 million copies. This is going to be dark, gritty, and the complete opposite of her Disney energy.
Then there’s Ella McCay. Directed by James L. Brooks (the guy who gave us Terms of Endearment and As Good as It Gets). It’s a political comedy-drama where she plays the aunt of the lead character, played by Emma Mackey. It hit theaters in late 2025, and while it had a bit of a rocky box office start against Zootopia 2, it’s being hailed as one of those "adult movies for adults" that we rarely see anymore.
The "Last Showgirl" Pivot
We also have to talk about The Last Showgirl. This movie is a total tonal shift.
Directed by Gia Coppola, it stars Pamela Anderson as an aging Las Vegas showgirl. Jamie Lee Curtis plays her best friend and confidante, a hardened cocktail waitress. It’s been doing the festival circuit and won a Special Jury Prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Critics are calling it some of Curtis’s most grounded, "lived-in" work. It’s gritty. It’s honest. It shows the side of Vegas that isn't the Bellagio fountains. If you want to see her act without the "Hollywood" sheen, this is the one to track down on VOD or Hulu.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan looking to keep up with the latest Jamie Lee Curtis projects, here’s how to prioritize your watch list:
- Re-watch the 2003 Freaky Friday: Do it before the trailers for Freakier Friday start hitting heavy rotation in early 2025. It holds up surprisingly well.
- Look for The Last Showgirl on streaming: It’s currently on Hulu and provides a great look at her dramatic range.
- Clear your calendar for March 2026: Scarpetta is going to be the "water cooler" show of the year. If you like The Bear (where she also had a killer guest spot), you’ll want to be there day one for this.
Jamie Lee Curtis is proving that you don't have to slow down just because you've won the big awards. Whether she’s swapping bodies with a teenager or solving grisly murders with Nicole Kidman, she’s staying relevant by taking big swings. It’s kinda cool to watch an icon refuse to be put in a box.
Keep an eye on the August 2025 release window—that’s when the "Freaky" marketing machine is going to go into overdrive.