Freakier Friday Cast Talk Body Swaps, Laughter, and Legacy

Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons share candid, behind-the-scenes memories in an exclusive Explore Disney+ interview.

Another generation of Colemans is about to gain a new understanding of empathy and belonging through a once (or twice!) in-a-lifetime body-swap experience in Freakier Friday, now streaming on Disney+. The sequel reunites Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, joined by newcomers Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons, with director Nisha Ganatra crafting a multigenerational story bursting with both comedy and heart. In these exclusive interviews, Hammons and Butters revisit first impressions, swapped identities, and set-life highlights. Read on!

Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons’ Freakier Friday Interview with Explore Disney+

When did you see the first Freaky Friday movie? What was your impression?

Julia: I can't remember the exact age I was when I first saw it, but I do know I was very young. My mom put it on for me because I was sick and missing school as a comfort movie and some mother–daughter bonding time. It was special considering the themes of the movie.

Sophia: I first saw the movie when I was 12 or 13. Which is funny because I think that's when a lot of people saw it, regardless of when it actually came out. It's a very good story to watch as a preteen, and it was the first time I'd ever seen a body swap story. I thought it was great, something I'd never really seen before. I remember in school we'd have spirit weeks, and one of the days was Freaky Friday (themed), where teachers would dress up as students and students dress up as teachers, or you would swap clothes with your best friend. So that was super awesome.

How did it feel when you were first cast, and who was the first person you told?

Sophia: When I was first cast, it felt insane. It was surreal. I immediately started sobbing. But I remember, because I hadn't told anyone that I was even in the process, or auditioning for it, and I knew one of my best friends had an inkling that something was going on, just like, “Why are you flying out to LA?” I was always just like, “I don't know. I'm just flying out.” So, I'm pretty sure I called her and her mom and was like, “Okay, I can now say it was Freakier Friday,” and they were like, “Oh my God, what? I knew it was something!” and then I called my dad.

Julia: When I was first cast, I was super excited and nervous because I knew that there was a huge responsibility to take care of a character that people had grown up with. And the first person I told was my acting coach, I called her immediately, and then I ran out into the living room, and I told my dad, then I called my mom!

When you were starting to prepare for the role, how did you prepare to embody legends like Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis?

Julia: It evolved slowly, I think, because to mimic a person, you have to make sure that you're not just doing an impression, but also getting the character down. We took our time making sure that it was intentional, that everything made sense for the character and for Lindsay's mannerisms. It was crazy because seeing Lindsay, who's someone that I've admired for so long, be me, so I took so many friends to go see the movie, and they all came up to me and they were like, "Lindsay really nailed that. She got you down." And I was like, "Hey, okay." So it was really flattering to see me portrayed by someone that I was so excited to be. I forgot it was a two-way street.

Sophia: It's funny because I started prepping for the role...in the audition. But specifically, I remember I was in that process of going back and forth and meeting with Nisha before I'd actually gotten cast. A common note was “add a little more Jamie mannerisms, be a little more like Jamie” and so before I'd actually known her, I just tried to watch every interview that I could and, specifically watch the first one and how she acts because, although a lot of Jamie is in Tess, I didn't want to just have it be an impersonation of Jamie. I wanted it to be like her character, so that definitely helped when she and I got to know each other more, and then just talked about Tess as a character and what she would do in a teenager's body.

What were some of your favorite memories or moments of working on Freakier Friday?

Sophia: Every day was a really good day. There wasn't a single day I left work not excited for tomorrow. Which is really special and actually really hard to do. Everyone was super positive and collaborative, and it definitely shows in the movie that we all had a great time. I think the switch scene is, in particular, very special to me because it was really close to the beginning of filming, and Nisha, our director, is so encouraging of improv and giving us a sense of safety and freedom when we perform. We were kind of able to just riff into this mirror and laugh, and when Jamie was saying that “I need to pee a little,” we could barely even get through the scene; we just kept laughing. So it was just a super fun day, and it set the tone for the whole shoot.

Julia: What a lot of people don't know is that the scene where Jamie is crawling on the floor of the record store? She did all of that at the table read too, where we're all just sitting in a line at a table, very sterile environment, there's a lot of people watching, it's kind of awkward looking, but she was crawling on the floor, like crawling on the table, and it was hilarious, it was great.

Now that fans are finally seeing the movie, is there anything you'd like to share with them? How has it felt to see their reactions?

Julia: I'm very excited for families to see it and for friends too. There's also the theme of chosen family, so it's moms, dads, uncles, aunts, grandparents, like anyone that is a loved one, or chosen family. That's a big message in the movie. And there's also an element of “you can't understand someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.” And for Lily and Harper, my character and Sofia's character, we are frenemies at the beginning. We kind of hate each other and we bully each other a little bit, and then by the end of the movie, understand each other better, and I hope it gives people our age insight on how to behave and how to treat other people, even if you don't see eye to eye. It's been so fun seeing it. I've taken people to go see it because I love seeing their live reactions, and overall, it's been very positive. It's incredible.

Sophia: Wow. I mean, it's been so crazy. You know, you work on this thing, we've all been on this project for a year. You film it and you become a family, and then you let it go. It's just so special for me to be part of this and to work with so many people that I've truly looked up to. I've felt like I'm not the new girl on set because I've been acting for a while, but I love Julia and Manny as actors, and, obviously, Lindsay and Jamie and everyone from the first one. They didn't treat me any differently. Everyone on set honestly felt valued and appreciated. And I just hope that when people watch it, they also feel seen and valued and appreciated and loved because that's how we all felt when making it.

What were your favorite Disney shows or movies to watch growing up?

Sophia: Ooh. Well, it's endless; Disney has so many great movies. I was literally just watching 10 Things I Hate About You. And Tangled, I was a big Tangled and Bolt girl, like, huge. Disney shows? I loved Good Luck Charlie. Maybe that was because it was set in Colorado, and I grew up in Colorado, but I loved Good Luck Charlie. And lately I've been watching New Girl.

Julia: Well, Disney shows…my dad was an audience warm-up guy for Wizards of Waverly Place, and I loved seeing his episode on that. He was in one episode as a mad science teacher, and it was so funny to be like, “That's my Dad!” when I was really little. I'm trying to think of my favorite Disney movie because I have so many. One that I think isn't talked about enough is Hercules, it's so good. It's so freaking good. It's one of my favorites. And The Emperor's New Groove is another one that is so funny, and it has such vocal talent in it.

In our chats with Sophia Hammons and Julia Butters, one theme kept surfacing: slipping into someone else's shoes — literally and figuratively — builds empathy. Both actors embraced the thrill homage, while grounding their portrayals in authentic character work.

Sophia highlights the improvisational energy director Nisha Ganatra fostered, noting that early body-swap scenes set a joyful tone for the entire shoot. For Julia, seeing Lindsay Lohan channel her own mannerisms underscored the film’s doubled-up identity hijinks.

Across both chats, cast camaraderie shines. Whether recalling Jamie Lee Curtis crawling across a table read or laughing through on-set bloopers, the actors agree that genuine respect and positivity are at the heart of the sequel.

What is Freakier Friday all about?

Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) thinks she has her wedding week under control, until magic once again rearranges the family tree. The new mix-up sends psychiatrist-turned-author Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) into future stepdaughter Lily’s (Sophia Hammons) shoes while Anna trades places with teen daughter Harper (Julia Butters). As vows hang in the balance, four generations must relearn empathy before the big day. Directed by Nisha Ganatra, the film pairs familiar faces with fresh chaos. Now streaming on Disney+.

Add Freakier Friday to Watchlist

Mixing returning favorites with fresh talent, Freakier Friday offers both nostalgic warmth and delightful surprises on a journey of laugh-out-loud antics and heartfelt sincerity. Keep an eye on Explore Disney+ for more exclusive cast insights, deep dives into upcoming releases, and additional behind-the-scenes spotlights arriving soon.