Fox reportedly wants to develop a 9 to 5 reboot/sequel featuring the original film’s stars Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin. The studio hopes to team the original trio with three younger stars for an up-to-date take on the hit 1980s office comedy.
9 to 5 stars Parton, Fonda and Tomlin as three women trying to get ahead in the corporate world. But the women’s efforts are stymied at every turn by sexist men, especially their chauvinist pig boss Dabney Coleman. Fed up with being harassed, the women hatch a scheme to kidnap Coleman and hold him hostage. Spurred in part by a hit theme song from Parton, 9 to 5 grossed an impressive $103 million. Amazingly, that placed it second at the 1980 box office behind only The Empire Strikes Back. The smash film spawned a short-lived sitcom, and later a Broadway musical.
As reported by Deadline, 20th Century Fox now wants to revive 9 to 5 with a possible reboot/sequel. Of course, the studio seeks Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda to reprise their roles from the original. The concept would add a trio of young actresses who meet with the same office sexual harassment that plagued the original film’s trio. The older ladies would then school the younger women in how to properly deal with chauvinistic men.
Fox’s plan reportedly would team original 9 to 5 writer Patricia Resnick with a young female writer. Writer/actress Rashida Jones is the studio’s first choice to take on these co-writing duties. The Parks and Rec star would also not be a terrible choice to play one of the young female leads. If the three original stars all sign on, expect loads of popular young actresses to line up for a chance to join the cast. Who wouldn’t want to co-star alongside three entertainment legends in a comedy that takes down male chauvinism?
Needless to say, the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace has recently become a major focus in the culture. Much of the furor was of course kicked off by last year’s string of revelations against multiple powerful Hollywood figures, starting with producer Harvey Weinstein and ending apparently never. The endless sickening reports have kick-started Hollywood’s activism, bringing movements like #MeToo and Time’s Up to the fore. With sexual harassment and pay equality so prominent in the cultural conversation, the time seems perfect for a reboot of 9 to 5. The original movie obviously tapped into something when it came out in 1980. And as we’ve seen, the culture hasn’t really evolved that much in the decades since.
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Source: Deadline
