EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Aniston Facing 'Casting Crisis' on '9 To 5' Remake as 'Big-Name Actresses Are Refusing to Turn Up For Auditions'
Jennifer Aniston is facing a crisis to recreate a cast as startling as the original line-up in '9 To 5', which featured Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin, right.
June 9 2025, Published 8:00 a.m. ET
Jennifer Aniston is struggling to land a big-name actress to lead her 9 to 5 remake – and if she can't, she fears the project is doomed, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
"Jen loves the 9 to 5 script but attaching other A-listers besides herself has proven challenging," a source told us.
They added: "It's been especially tough when it comes to the red-hot next-generation names who need to come aboard to make this film a must-see for both older and younger women. The big names have been agreeing, but then flaking and not turning up to auditions – and lots don't even want to audition."
A-List Struggle
Zendaya, right, and Sydney Sweeney are topping Aniston's casting wish list – but they are proving hard to land.
Aniston's production company, Echo Films, announced last year it was planning a "reimagining" of the hit 1980 comedy.
It starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton as secretaries who band together to take down their sexist, egotistical boss, played by Dabney Coleman.
According to the source, at the top of Aniston's recruiting list are Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, who gained huge fan followings while starring in HBO's blockbuster teen drama Euphoria.
"Unfortunately, both girls are booked solid for the next two or three years, and the 9 to 5 brand doesn't hold a lot of cultural currency for actors under the age of 40," our insider said. "It means a lot more to Jen and her generation, but that's not enough fo the new breed of Hollywood A-list actresses."
Aniston's Echo Films is hunting for a bold female director to revamp the '9 to 5' reboot.
As it stands, the project needs an injection of "cool" – and that comes down to Aniston's choice of director and whether that choice can push the project into a higher gear.
Our insider added: "Jen would love to work with a female director but there's a very limited talent pool out there. She'll need some out-of-the-box thinking to score a green light for this project.
"Besides that, she wanted to shoot 9 to 5 this year, during her break from her gig on TV's The Morning Show. That didn't happen and it was a major disappointment, but she's not giving up on this project just yet."
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Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are cheering on the remake despite Aniston's hurdles.
On the upside, two of the film's original stars have Aniston's back.
"We hope she has great success. It's a hard nut to crack because the issues are somewhat different," Tomlin said.
Fonda added: "I hope she does it."
