Emily Bader and Logan Lerman to Star in Netflix’s ‘13 Going on 30’ Reboot With Jennifer Garner
If you’ve been following Emily Bader’s absolutely meteoric Netflix run or Logan Lerman’s quiet evolution into one of the most interesting actors working right now, this casting news just made your week.
Netflix is rebooting 13 Going on 30, the 2004 romantic comedy, with Bader in the lead role and Lerman as her romantic counterpart.
And yes, Jennifer Garner — who starred in the original — is on board as executive producer.
Emily Bader Keeps Winning
Bader is quickly becoming one of Netflix’s go-to leading ladies, and this project only cements that trajectory.
She previously starred in Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation, an adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, which spent four weeks on Netflix’s global Top 10 movies list and reached the Top 10 in 92 countries, per Deadline.
Before that, she turned heads in Prime Video’s My Lady Jane and the mob drama Fresh Kills.
And she’s far from slowing down. Bader was cast as soccer legend Mia Hamm in the upcoming Netflix sports drama The 99’ers, based on the book The Girls of Summer by Jeré Longman.
Brett Haley, who’s directing the reboot, previously directed Bader in People We Meet on Vacation.
“Couldn’t be more excited to reunite with Emily Bader after People We Meet on Vacation,” Haley said of his reunion with Bader, per Deadline.
Logan Lerman’s Glow-Up Era
Lerman has been building one of the most interesting filmographies of his generation.
You probably first knew him as Percy Jackson in Percy Jackson and the Olympians or from The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but his recent work has taken a sharp turn toward prestige territory.
He appeared in Season 5 of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.
His most recent credits also include the dark comedy Oh, Hi!, directed by Sophie Brooks, which Sony Pictures Classics acquired after its Sundance premiere. He also starred in We Were the Lucky Ones.
Pairing him with Bader for a reimagined rom-com feels like a smart move that bridges his YA roots with his current momentum.
“(Bader) and the amazingly talented Logan Lerman are a magical pairing. I feel incredibly lucky to be trusted with something that means so much to so many people,” Haley said, per Deadline.
What We Know About the Reboot
Plot details are being kept under wraps for now. The screenplay was written by Hannah Marks, with revisions by Flora Greeson.
Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum will produce for RK Films. Additional executive producers include Donna Roth, Susan Arnold, Scott Hemming (Revolution Studios), Alyssa Altman (RK Films) and Hannah Marks.
Haley clearly understands what Bader brings to the screen — and he’s not taking this project lightly.
“13 Going on 30 is one of those rare, perfect films,” Haley said, per Deadline. “Funny, emotional, deeply human, with unforgettable performances from Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo and Judy Greer. I’m a longtime fan, so stepping into this reimagining comes with tremendous responsibility.”
The original 13 Going on 30 was directed by Gary Winick and released by Columbia Pictures in April 2004. It starred Garner as Jenna Rink, a 13-year-old who magically wakes up as her 30-year-old self, with Ruffalo as her geeky best friend and eventual love interest and Greer as her lifelong frenemy.
A stage musical adaptation, executive produced by Garner and directed by Andy Fickman, world premiered at the Manchester Opera House in September.
“Jennifer Garner being on board as an executive producer, after playing such a big part of what made the original special, is especially meaningful,” Haley added, per Deadline.
Fans Are Already Divided
Reactions online are split. Some fans shared excitement, with one Instagram user commenting, “Yes! Great casting with Emily Bader,” under a post by The Hollywood Reporter, and another saying, “made my day.”
Others pushed back. Why do we fix what isn’t broken,” one user wrote under a post by Variety.
Another wrote, “have they ever thought about just coming up with an original concept?”
And some landed somewhere in between: “We don’t need this but I’ll still watch it,” one user commented.
Wherever you fall, Bader and Lerman in a Netflix rom-com directed by Haley is a combination worth paying attention to.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
