The team members of Asian descent working on Disney’s upcoming sequel “Freakier Friday,” who are responsible for its production, have expressed that the original 2003 film contained some questionable decisions regarding its Asian characters. In the forthcoming release in August, they strive to rectify these issues by making positive changes.
In the 2003 movie, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan portray a bickering mother-daughter duo. During an intense argument at a Chinese eatery, owner Pei-Pei (Rosalind Chao) advises her mom (Lucille Soong) to keep quiet, but she doesn’t listen. Instead, she steps in, giving Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) a plate of fortune cookies. “This isn’t the best moment,” Anna remarks, yet Soong’s character persists, speaking quickly in Chinese. To silence her, Tess and Anna grab the cookies, which hold a magical power, causing them to switch bodies until they can empathize more deeply with each other.
Director Nisha Ganatra expressed her concerns about certain harmful stereotypes in an interview with Entertainment Weekly regarding the film. She recalled feeling divided, particularly concerning the depiction of Asians, as well as the music used. Immediately during her initial meetings with the producers, she addressed this issue. Her presentation was akin to saying, ‘Problematic Asian representation!’
As a dedicated cinephile, I felt it was my duty to rectify any missteps from the previous film. Collaborating with screenwriter Jordan Weiss, I strove to infuse “Freaky Friday” with small yet impactful scenes that not only resonate with this movie’s essence but also provide a sense of closure for those who felt let down by certain aspects in the previous version.
In the sequel, Chao and Soong reappear for some exciting scenes, however, unlike before, they won’t be participating in the body-swapping plotline this time.
In the 2003 movie, it wasn’t meant deliberately, but it was an issue nonetheless. As an Asian individual, I was particularly sensitive to this aspect.
I had some reservations about “Freaky Friday” before I signed on to play Eric, Anna’s fiancé, yet I was pleased with how Ganatra tackled the Asian representation in the updated movie – a perspective from someone who followed the project closely.
When I decided to join, I recalled my initial viewing of the first Freaky Friday and thinking, ‘This seems rather outdated in terms of its diverse characters.’ Given my acquaintance with Nisha and conversations with others from our circle, I was confident that we had a leader who was fully cognizant of those stereotypes or problems presented in the original. I felt extremely comfortable and well-handled during the process,” he said. “I’m unsure if it would have had the same warmth and appeal had a different director been at the helm. She manages to keep it down-to-earth and authentic, while also maintaining a charismatic and entertaining vibe. That’s a delicate balance, and she handles it exceptionally well.
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2025-05-01 00:16