Emily Bader Calls Working With Jennifer Garner a Gift on the 13 Going on 30 Reboot

A new take on a classic

Netflix is revisiting the 2004 romantic comedy 13 Going on 30, with Emily Bader and Logan Lerman in the leading roles. Jennifer Garner, who starred in the original, is an executive producer on the new film.

The earlier movie follows Jenna Rink, played as a teenager by Christa B. Allen and as an adult by Garner. After wishing to be 30, Jenna wakes up grown and faces her life as a magazine editor in New York City, while reconsidering her past and her bond with a childhood friend, played by Mark Ruffalo.

The reboot’s plot has not been revealed, leaving open how much of the original story will carry over. Lerman is set to play Bader’s love interest.

Bader on Garner’s legacy

In an October 28 interview with E! News, Bader said she had felt “paranoid” about taking on a role associated with Garner. She also said the experience of working with Garner had been “such a gift.”

Bader described the timing as right for bringing the story to a new generation. She said she hoped new viewers could connect with the film as she had.

Brett Haley, who directed Bader in People We Meet on Vacation, is directing the reboot. Deadline reported that Haley and Bader wanted to work together again and viewed the project as an ideal chance to do so.

Cast and production details

Taylor Ortega, Tim Meadows, and Dan Bucatinsky joined the project, Deadline reported. A later casting announcement named Taylor Zakhar Perez, Owen Thiele, Nasim Pedrad, Supriya Ganesh, Myra Molloy, Charley McCain, Henry Samiri, Audrina Miranda, and Kai Zen; their roles have not been announced.

Garner is executive producing alongside Marks, Donna Roth, Susan Arnold, Scott Hemming, and Alyssa Altman. Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are also producing. The original film’s director, Haley, praised its performances by Garner, Ruffalo, and Judy Greer. He called the movie “funny, emotional, deeply human” and said reimagining it carried considerable responsibility.