Jennifer Garner and Judy Greer have officially returned to the world of 13 Going on 30. The original stars were recently photographed filming scenes alongside Emily Bader on the set of Netflix’s upcoming reimagining, marking the first on-set confirmation that both actresses will appear in the new film.
The images, captured during production in Santa Monica, California, show Garner, Greer, and Bader filming together outside an office building. While Netflix has not confirmed whether Garner and Greer are reprising their iconic roles as Jenna Rink and Lucy “Tom-Tom” Wyman or portraying entirely new characters, their presence on set suggests the streaming giant is finding a meaningful way to connect the beloved 2004 romantic comedy with a new generation of audiences.
Garner’s involvement had never been a secret. Earlier this year, it was announced that she would serve as an executive producer on the project, ensuring she would have a creative hand in bringing the story back to life. However, her on-screen appearance remained uncertain until the latest set photos surfaced.
Just last week, Garner joked about visiting the production during an interview with Variety. “I’m going to go [and] see if I can bump around and see if they’ll put me in somewhere,” she said, adding that perhaps she could appear somewhere in the background during a new version of the film’s unforgettable “Thriller” dance sequence. The newly released images suggest her involvement extends well beyond a simple cameo.
Garner has previously explained why she chose to return to a project she had resisted revisiting for years. Although various reboot ideas had been proposed over the past two decades—including a television adaptation that never materialized and a stage musical currently in development—she ultimately decided she wanted to be part of Netflix’s reimagining rather than watch it move forward without anyone connected to the original film.
“The script and Emily Bader,” Garner previously told Variety, were what convinced her to sign on. Calling Bader “magical,” she said she hopes “magic can strike twice” and that a new generation of audiences will embrace the story in the same way viewers did more than two decades ago.
Judy Greer’s return is equally noteworthy. The actress memorably played Jenna’s childhood rival Lucy “Tom-Tom” Wyman, one of the original film’s most recognizable supporting characters. Earlier this year, Greer said there were no plans for her to reprise the role but joked that she would gladly return if Garner asked, adding that because Garner was serving as executive producer, “she would be my boss again.” The latest set photos indicate that reunion has now become a reality, even if Netflix is keeping the details of her role under wraps.
The reimagining stars Emily Bader in the lead role alongside Logan Lerman. Jessica Alba, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Adeline Rudolph, Taylor Ortega, Tim Meadows, and Dan Bucatinsky round out the ensemble cast. Brett Haley directs the film after recently helming Netflix’s successful adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation. As with the original film, Netflix has kept the story’s plot largely under wraps.
Released in 2004, 13 Going on 30 followed 13-year-old Jenna Rink, who mysteriously wakes up as her 30-year-old self after making a birthday wish. Directed by Gary Winick, the romantic fantasy comedy starred Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, and Christa B. Allen. Although it earned a respectable $96 million worldwide during its theatrical run, the film’s reputation only continued to grow in the years that followed, becoming one of the defining romantic comedies of the 2000s.
The film remains beloved for its heartfelt coming-of-age story, Garner and Ruffalo’s chemistry, the iconic “Thriller” dance sequence, and memorable moments involving Razzles candy and Jenna’s colorful dream apartment. Over the past two decades, 13 Going on 30 has evolved into a genuine cult favorite, particularly among Millennial audiences, frequently appearing on lists celebrating the greatest romantic comedies of the century.
While Netflix has yet to reveal exactly how the new film connects to its predecessor, Garner and Greer’s appearances on set suggest the reimagining may offer more than a simple retelling. Whether through cameos, legacy roles, or a direct continuation of the original story, their involvement adds an extra layer of nostalgia to a project already generating considerable anticipation.
With production continuing and plot details still closely guarded, Netflix’s 13 Going on 30 reimagining is steadily becoming one of the streaming platform’s most closely watched upcoming romantic comedies. For longtime fans of the original, seeing Jennifer Garner and Judy Greer back together—whatever their roles may ultimately be—is likely to be one of the film’s biggest attractions.
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