Lily Tomlin has shared her displeasure at the news Jennifer Aniston is set to reboot the film 9 to 5, in which she originally starred.
The 1980 American comedy saw the veteran actress, 84, appear alongside Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda as three disgruntled employees who take revenge on their sexist boss.
While plans for a sequel were eventually ditched, it was adapted for the stage by Parton, with a production opening on London’s West End in 2019.
Now, Friends alumni Aniston, 55, has jumped at the chance to breathe new life into the classic, with a screenplay written by the Oscar-winning writer of Juno, Diablo Cody.
Tomlin has shared her reaction to this development, admitting that part of her feels “rejected”.
Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton starred in the original movie 9 to 5 (Getty Images)
Speaking to US publication, People, she explained: “I felt sort of the same way I felt about the musical. You know, part of you feels rejected.”
“You think that character’s yours always. And you could reembody it.”
Tomlin said she felt sceptical about the success of a remake, adding, “It’s going to be tough to make [the movie] happen. My sympathies are with Jennifer and her writer, Diablo, who is a good writer.”
She previously discussed the challenges that had hampered any attempt at a sequel, telling Entertainment Tonight: “We had one official crack at the script. The draft just didn’t work for us.
“We couldn’t really see the work world today [in the pages]. People work from home. They take gig work. They don’t even know their boss. They’re at home!”
