EXCLUSIVE: Jessica Alba has inked a deal to join Emily Bader, Logan Lerman, and Adeline Rudolph in Netflix’s reboot of the beloved romantic comedy ’13 Going on 30′. According to sources, the highly anticipated sequel is currently in production in Los Angeles, with Jennifer Garner, who starred in the original film, serving as an executive producer.
The original film, released in 2004 by Columbia Pictures, centers on a 13-year-old girl who magically wakes up as her 30-year-old self and must navigate adulthood while rediscovering who she really is. Garner played the grown-up version of the character, starring opposite Mark Ruffalo in the beloved film from Gary Winick. The film grossed around $96 million in theaters worldwide and achieved major success on home video, making a reboot inevitable.
Amid development on this film, Garner recently executive produced a stage musical adaptation, directed by Andy Fickman, which world premiered at the Manchester Opera House last fall. The reboot’s cast includes Jessica Alba, who comes to the project after executive producing and starring in Netflix’s hit thriller ‘Trigger Warning’, which debuted at #1 in 67 countries and has been viewed more than 91 million times globally.
Other upcoming projects for Alba include ‘Maserati: The Brothers’ with Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins, and Justin Chadwick’s ‘The Mark’. She has recently inked with both CAA and Untitled Entertainment, as previously reported, and is also repped by Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
The ’13 Going on 30′ reboot is being directed by Brett Haley, who helmed Netflix’s hit romantic comedy ‘People We Meet on Vacation’. The script is written by Hannah Marks (Mark, Mary, & Some Other People) with revisions by Flora Greeson (The Princess Diaries 3). Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are producing for RK Films, with Garner executive producing alongside Donna Roth and Susan Arnold, Scott Hemming for Revolution Studios, Alyssa Altman for RK Films, Marks, Gina Matthews, and Ted Gidlow.
Alba’s addition to the cast is a significant one, as she brings her own brand of star power to the project. Her experience in the romantic comedy genre, as well as her ability to bring depth and nuance to her characters, make her a great fit for the role. With the cast and crew in place, fans can expect a high-quality reboot that stays true to the spirit of the original film.
