Netflix is reimagining the 2004 rom-com 13 Going on 30 with Emily Bader and Logan Lerman attached to star and Jennifer Garner on board as an executive producer. The update revives a beloved comedy for a new generation while keeping key creative ties to modern Netflix hits.
What’s happening
Emily Bader and Logan Lerman will lead a Netflix reboot of 13 Going on 30, the film that made Jennifer Garner a household name as Jenna Rink. Brett Haley, who directed Bader in Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation, is directing. The script comes from Hannah Marks with revisions by Flora Greeson; exact plot details are being kept under wraps, and the project is described as a reimagining rather than a shot-for-shot remake.
Who’s involved
- Stars: Emily Bader, Logan Lerman
- Director: Brett Haley
- Writer: Hannah Marks (revisions by Flora Greeson)
- Executive Producer: Jennifer Garner, plus Marks, Donna Roth, Susan Arnold
- Production: Revolution Studios (Scott Hemming) and RK Films (Alyssa Altman, Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum)
Why it matters now
Haley called the original film “one of those rare, perfect films,” saying taking on a reimagining carries “tremendous responsibility.” Garner’s participation as an executive producer — after starring in and helping define the original — signals a careful, respectful approach rather than a quick cash-in reboot.
Context and creative thread
The original 2004 film followed 13-year-old Jenna Rink, who wakes up in a 30-year-old body and must reckon with the adult life she wished for. The cast included Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo and Judy Greer; its memorable moments (from the Thriller-style dance sequence to Razzles candy) have kept the movie culturally relevant among millennials.
Bader reunites with Haley after People We Meet on Vacation, which reached Netflix’s Global Top 10 for several weeks. Bader is meanwhile attached to play soccer legend Mia Hamm in the upcoming biopic The 99ers, giving her rising-star momentum going into this reboot.
Reaction and buzz
Fans have been quick to respond online to news of the reboot, trading nostalgia about the original’s iconic scenes and debating how a modern reimagining might handle 1980s-set wish‑fulfillment themes. Industry observers note that Garner’s executive-producer credit and the choice of Haley — who has a track record with Netflix — suggest a project aimed at both fans of the original and new viewers.
What’s next
Netflix and the creative team have not announced a production start date or release window. Casting details beyond Bader and Lerman, principal photography timing and how closely the new version will echo the original’s plot remain to be revealed. Deadline first reported the project; more official updates are expected from Netflix and the producers in the coming months.
Bottom line
This reboot keeps the heart of a beloved rom‑com — with Jennifer Garner stewarding the project — while leaning on a director and lead actress who already have proven Netflix chemistry. For fans of the 2004 film, the reboot raises familiar questions: how much will change, and how will a new Jenna’s story reflect today’s culture? Netflix’s answers are coming, slowly but deliberately.