Jennifer Aniston is ready to ignite a gold rush among Hollywood’s leading ladies with a remake of classic 1980 movie 9 to 5. The former Friends actress is moving ahead with plans to produce a modern day version of the female-led office comedy just two months after the death of country music icon Dolly Parton. Dolly, who starred in the ground-breaking original – her debut film – alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, gave Aniston her blessing for the remake before succumbing to cancer on August 25 aged 80. And a senior studio production source yesterday confirmed: “Jennifer grew close to Dolly when they discussed the project earlier this year, although she was disappointed when Dolly said she felt ‘too old’ to make even a small cameo appearance.”
The actress was “heartbroken” when the singer passed, the executive added, “and she didn’t want people to think she was in any way exploiting Dolly’s memory. She’s had to tread a careful path but now sees this as a fitting tribute to a true icon.”
Aniston’s own production company Echo Films is now “forging ahead” with the big budget remake for 20th Century Studios – formerly Twentieth Century Fox – with Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody already working on a script.
Though there has been no official casting yet, Sydney Sweeney, Ariana Grande and Zendaya are hotly tipped for the three leading roles, according to our source. “They are very much the favourites but a lot of other major stars will also be pushing hard for a part in what is virtually guaranteed to be a box office hit.”
The original film earned widespread praise for its comedic commentary on women’s labour and workplace sexism – as well as garnering Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Dolly’s theme song.
