Hollywood legend Jodie Foster has taken a light-hearted jab at artificial intelligence after discovering that some AI tools fail to acknowledge her role in the original Freaky Friday film. The 63-year-old actor and filmmaker recently spoke candidly about how modern AI systems appear to skip over her contribution to the iconic body-swap franchise that began in the 1970s.
In an interview, Foster revealed that when people ask AI platforms to list the Freaky Friday movies, the responses often jump straight to the Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan version, ignoring the 1976 adaptation in which Foster starred as Annabel. Amused but slightly baffled, Foster joked that artificial intelligence seems to have “no memory of the 1970s,” highlighting how digital tools sometimes overlook earlier eras of cinema.
The Freaky Friday story originated from a children’s novel written by Mary Rodgers in 1972, which later inspired the 1976 film featuring a young Jodie Foster. Decades later, the concept was revived for a new generation when director Mark Waters reimagined the story in 2003 with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, a version that went on to achieve massive global popularity. This remake introduced the franchise to younger audiences, but according to Foster, it may also have contributed to her role being forgotten in online summaries.
Despite her foundational place in the franchise’s history, Foster chose not to appear in later sequels. Director Nisha Ganatra, who is working on the upcoming sequel Freakier Friday, previously shared that she made several attempts to persuade Foster to make a cameo appearance. However, Foster politely declined the offer, and the reason behind her decision was never publicly explained.
Foster’s comments have sparked discussion about how AI gathers and presents information, especially when it comes to older films and cultural milestones. While her remarks were clearly made in jest, they also underline a broader conversation about the limitations of technology when it comes to preserving and recognising cinematic history. For fans of classic films, Foster’s role in Freaky Friday remains an important part of the franchise’s legacy, whether AI remembers it or not.
