Perhaps one of the most beloved comedies of the 1980s, 9 to 5 is getting a brand-new remake with Friends alum Jennifer Aniston producing. Premiering in 1980, the film concerns three women who work under a tyrannical boss and decide to teach him a lesson in humility. The hilarious workplace farce was anchored by the trio of performances by Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin but managed to be just as poignant as it was hilarious. Touching on issues like workplace discrimination and sexism, 9 to 5 still manages to be powerful today.
Unlike many other poignant comedies which take a while to build an audience, 9 to 5 was an immediate success and was even the highest-grossing comedy of 1980. Parton's turn as an actor made her a beloved figure outside of the country music sphere, and the title song provided by Parton herself is still one of the most popular tracks in the singer's arsenal. Plans for a sequel were announced in the late 2010s but stalled, and now 9 to 5 has a chance to return in a brand-new remake.
The 9 To 5 Remake Latest News
Diablo Cody Discusses The Remake's Story
With the highly-anticipated re-do still in the development phase, the latest news comes as a story tease for the 9 to 5 remake. Screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno, Lisa Frankenstein) spoke candidly about her interpretation of the film in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, and while discussing the original, she dropped some hints about the remake. After praising the original's take on sexist office culture, Cody said of the remake, "I see most of the conflict taking place generationally." Generational clashes are a new wrinkle that even the prescient original didn't tackle.
Read Cody's full comments below:
One thing that was really fun about it for me is that the original movie focused on the battle of the sexes and the corporate world. And to me, I see most of the conflict taking place generationally, like Gen Z versus boomers in the workplace, and how now we have this whole generation of people coming up who've learned to set boundaries, and that is actually, shockingly enough, a new development.
You have other generations out there in the corporate world who we're told just to kind of suck it up. So there's definitely a cultural clash there, and I thought, 'Oh, this seems like it's so ripe for comedic treatment.'
It hasn't been cast or anything like that, but I feel like we're moving forward with it. It was really an exciting thing to work on. I would tell you everything, but I don’t want to get in trouble.
The 9 To 5 Remake Is Confirmed
A Sequel Was Also Planned But Has Since Been Canceled
Rumblings of a follow-up to 9 to 5 began back in 2018 with hints concerning a sequel involving the original trio of actors from the 1980 film. However, those plans seemingly stalled and have largely been usurped by the announcement of a 9 to 5 remake from Jennifer Aniston's production company (via The Hollywood Reporter). Details are rather slim concerning the project, but Aniston will oversee alongside her producing partner Kristin Hahn under the Echo Films banner. Juno scribe Diablo Cody has been tapped to pen the screenplay for the modern re-imagining.
Who Is Making The 9 To 5 Remake?
Jennifer Aniston Is Producing
Even if a director and cast haven't been found yet, the 9 to 5 remake already has some big names behind the scenes. First, Friends alum Jennifer Aniston will co-produce the movie under her Echo Films banner, and she has recently overseen the production of movies like Murder Mystery 2 for Netflix. It's unclear if Aniston plans to appear in the film, and she has previously pulled double duty in the aforementioned Netflix sequel.
The other major name attached to 9 to 5 is noted screenwriter and director Diablo Cody who first rose to prominence by winning an Oscar for 2007's Juno. Besides the classic 2000s coming-of-age drama, Cody has earned acclaim for writing the cult classic series The United States of Tara and for her underrated horror gem, Jennifer's Body. Cody's concise and witty voice is perfect for a modernized version of 9 to 5, and she will likely be able to view the classic themes through a more contemporary lens.
The 9 To 5 Remake Story Details
How Will The Remake Modernize The Classic Movie?
Though 9 to 5 was sidesplitting, the real power of the '80s classic is that it showed empowered women fighting back against an unfair system. That message resonated with viewers back then, and continues to do so today, and it creates the biggest challenge for a modern remake. Many of the same issues tackled in the original are still around today, but the landscape has changed and new issues have arisen.
The remake of 9 to 5 must address new cultural changes, while also staying true to the basic themes and premise of the original. Screenwriter Diablo Cody has teased that the remake will concern the clash between generations in the workforce, highlighting the modern Gen Z versus Baby Boomers cultural struggle. With all that said, the movie will likely follow a group of workers who are fed up with their boss, and decide to fight back. Since the workplace has changed dramatically since the 1980s, the remake could tackle the changing landscape of labor in the 21st century.
9 to 5 Remake: Further News & Info
Jennifer Aniston's 9 To 5 Remake Gets Supportive Response From Original Stars
