Picture Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Twenty-two years after Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo busted out the “Thriller” dance and charmed audiences around the globe, Netflix is officially heading back to the “Big Time.”
A reimagined 13 Going on 30 film is currently in production, featuring a fresh cast, a modern spin on the story, and a familiar face returning behind the scenes; there is a lot to be excited about.
Here is our comprehensive “Everything We Know” guide to the 13 Going on 30 reboot, including new cast members, plot updates, and some recent on-set drama.
What is the plot of the 13 Going on 30 Reboot?
While the core “magic wishing dust” body-swap premise remains intact, Netflix is treating this as a reimagining rather than a direct 1:1 remake of the 2004 classic.
As we’ve previously covered, the story has been updated for a 2026 audience with some major changes to the characters. While the original film focused on Jenna Rink and Matty Flamhaff, recent casting details suggest our leads have been renamed. The main character is now Grace Fischer, who features an updated family dynamic—she is being raised by two dads. Grace is described as a bright, ambitious 13-year-old who has fallen out of the popular crowd and uses her charm to mask her anxiety.
Her romantic counterpart has been renamed Ollie Brown, an introspective, observant music snob who prefers looking at the world through a camera lens rather than participating in middle school social dynamics.
Who is starring in the reboot?
Picture Credits: Netflix
Taking over the leading roles of 30-year-old Grace and Ollie are two of Hollywood’s brightest rising stars:
- Emily Bader (My Lady Jane, People We Meet on Vacation) will play the adult version of Grace.
- Logan Lerman (Hunters, Only Murders in the Building, The Perks of Being a Wallflower) will star opposite her as the adult Ollie.
Netflix has been actively casting for the 13-year-old versions of Grace and Ollie, noting that the younger actors will need to be close physical matches to Bader and Lerman.
Who is behind the camera?
Netflix is keeping things in the family by tapping Brett Haley to direct. Haley is a staple for the streamer, having helmed All the Bright Places, All Together Now, and the upcoming adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation (which also stars Bader).
The script was penned by Hannah Marks (Mark, Mary, & Some Other People), with revisions by Flora Greeson (The High Note).
Best of all for fans of the original? Jennifer Garner is officially returning to the franchise! This time, she is serving as an executive producer, working alongside original producers Susan Arnold and Donna Roth.
Rounding out the production crew, we have also learned of a few key members bringing the film to life:
- Cinematographer: Rob Givens (People We Meet on Vacation)
- Composer: Keegan DeWitt (Friendship)
- Production Designer: Bruce Curtis
- Costume Designer: Colin Wilkes (Palm Springs)
- Casting Director: Carla Hool
- Production Sound Mixer: Phillip W. Palmer
Production Status, Working Titles, and a Massive Fire
Cameras are officially rolling! Operating under the working title “Authentic,” filming kicked off in Los Angeles on June 23, 2026, and is scheduled to wrap up on August 11, 2026. The film is being produced by RK Films, Revolution Studios, and Netflix Sunset, LLC, backed by a massive $10.9 million tax credit from the California Film Commission. The movie was also reportedly filmed at the iconic Ebell Club (which later caught fire). The pictures from Reddit were reportedly taken near the Donny Darko house filming location.
Netflix filming the 13 Going on 30 remake in Long Beach
byu/jeremiahwarren inlongbeach
Are you looking forward to the 13 Going on 30 reboot on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
