Lily Tomlin Doesn’t Know If a New ‘9 to 5’ Works Today: “They Don’t Even Know Their Boss!”
If you’ve ever had a horrible boss, the workplace comedy 9 to 5 still holds up. The 1980 film starred Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton as three workers who aim to get revenge on their sexist, arrogant boss, played by the late Dabney Coleman. Over the years, the movie inspired a series, documentary and Broadway show, and there were talks of a sequel. Now, it has been confirmed that Jennifer Aniston is producing a reimagining of 9 to 5, with a script written by Diablo Cody.
“We had one official crack at the script,” Tomlin said about the potential sequel. “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!” The ladies never liked the script and passed on the project.
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
Tomlin added that she felt a little hurt when news broke about a new remake of the iconic movie. “I felt sort of the same way I felt about the musical,” she explained. “You know, part of you feels rejected. You think that character’s yours always. And you could reembody it. 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.”
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
Although Tomlin doesn’t seem thrilled about the new remake, Dolly Parton said she would like a part in it! She said, “I’m hoping they use my song, and I’m hoping they might find a way to have Lily, Jane and me come back in.” Parton also shared who she would love to see play her original role of Doralee Rhodes. She thinks her goddaughter Miley Cyrus would be perfect! She added, “Wouldn’t she be great? Well, she knows me. She knows the memories that I have [from the movie].”
Remind As of now, there are not many details known about the 9 to 5 reimagining, but we are curious to see who is cast in the film and how different it looks in today’s culture. 9 to 5 remains one of the highest-grossing comedies of all time, plus it helped create Parton’s popular hit song “9 to 5,” which got a resurgence on social media in the last few years.
What do you think about a 9 to 5 remake with Aniston and Cody?
Oh What A Year: 1980
January 2020
Take a look back at our retrospect of the year 1980 where we celebrate the hottest in movies, music and TV.
Buy This Issue