This article is part of a directory: Jennifer Aniston's 9 to 5 Remake: Confirmation & Everything We Know
Jennifer Aniston’s upcoming remake of 9 to 5 gets a supportive reaction from the film’s original stars. Directed by Colin Higgins, the original 9 to 5 starred Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and features the story of a group of women in the workplace struggling with sexism and other issues. Last month, it was announced that a reimagining of 9 to 5 was in the works with Aniston as a producer.
Speaking with Variety, Fonda and Tomlin address Aniston’s 9 to 5 remake. Tomlin opened with her endorsement of the project, saying that she and Fonda “hope she [Aniston] has great success.” Fonda backed this sentiment and spoke on the lasting relevancy of 9 to 5’s themes, saying that “changes that are as profound as overturning patriarchy, they take time and we can’t give up.” Tomlin similarly expressed that “there’s still the undercurrent of the same kind of negativity towards females.” Check out the full quotes from Tomlin and Fonda below:
Tomlin: We hope she has great success. It’s a hard nut to crack because the issues are somewhat different.
Fonda: I hope she does it.
Tomlin: There’s still the undercurrent of the same kind of negativity towards females … [they’re] not easy-to-solve issues. So we’re very eager to see what they do.”
Fonda: I know that changes that are as profound as overturning patriarchy, they take time and we can’t give up. It’s not a marathon. It’s a relay.
The Lasting Impact Of 9 To 5 Explained
The Themes Of The Movie Are Still Relevant Today
In many ways, 9 to 5 was ahead of its time. Released in 1980, the farcical comedy was released during a time when women were rarely shown in a professional environment on screen, paralleled by underrepresentation in real-world working environments as well. For 9 to 5 to so directly tackle themes of workplace sexism and taking down a patriarchal bigot was bold for the year in which the film was released.
Because the Fonda and Tomlin film was so groundbreaking, the film has persisted in the cultural memory. In 2022, the documentary film Still Working 9 to 5 was released, which chronicled the impact of the film and the lasting inequalities that women face today in the workplace and beyond. The film featured interviews from Fonda, Tomlin, and “9 to 5” songwriter Dolly Parton, as well as notable actresses such as Allison Janney, Bonnie Langford, and Rita Moreno. In their personal lives, Fonda and Tomlin have continued to be feminist icons who champion gender equality.
In the 44 years since the release of 9 to 5, there have been a lot of positive strides for women, but there have also been a lot of new issues made the focus of cultural conversation. Among these issues includes the #MeToo movement, wherein numerous Hollywood actors came forward with their stories of sexual misconduct and abuse in the workplace. This issue has been covered in films like She Said and Bombshell, and could be explored in Aniston’s 9 to 5 remake as well as it works to reimagine and update the impactful 1980 film.
Source: Variety
