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Selena Gomez Is Reportedly In Talks To Remake Melanie Griffith's ‘80s Classic 'Working Girl'

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

For those of you who've watched 1988 classic Working Girl, you might, like us, find yourself rewatching it over and over again. It's that good. You might also ask yourself what would protagonist Tess McGill be like today?

If you haven't watched it yet (what are you waiting for?), this 80s career and romance comedy has empowered generations of women.

It resonated with the 1980s era, which saw women attaining more high paid professional jobs and demonstrated what ambition, resilience and proactiveness can achieve.

Photo credit: Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images
Photo credit: Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images

The movie sees protagonist McGill, played by Melanie Griffith, as an ambitious secretary who poses as her boss Katherine Parker (Sigourney Weaver) while the latter recovers from a broken leg, seeking revenge after she deviously stole an idea.

When watching the movie it's easy to feel McGill's frustration as she shared her impressive initiative with Parker in confidence while trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Now, Selena Gomez is reportedly in talks to produce a remake of the iconic movie, which received five Oscar nominations in 1989 including 'Best Actress' for Griffith and two 'Best Supporting Actress' nominations for Weaver and Joan Cusack.

Mike Nichols, who died in 2014 aged 83, was also nominated for 'Best Director', and the film itself was in the running for 'Best Picture' too.

Photo credit: Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images
Photo credit: Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images

The revived version will reportedly be developed by 20th Century Studios, using a script from Ilana Pena, and it's understood that the movie will air on Hulu, according to Entertainment Weekly.

A director is yet to be announced.

A lot has changed in the corporate working world since the original aired 24 years ago and addressed office politics amongst women. For one, working from home culture has taken precedence, so it will be interesting to see how the plot line is adapted for the modern age.

Women have also progressed massively in their careers (despite the pay gap disadvantaging women by 15.4% in the UK, as of 2021). In April to June 2013 around 67% of women aged 16 to 64 were in work, an increase from 53% in 1971.

The original Working Girl film explored romance in the office too, and saw Harrison Ford (Jack Trainer) play Parker's boyfriend and McGill's love interest.

Photo credit: Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images
Photo credit: Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images

In December 2018, Griffith, who also earned a Golden Globe award for her portrayal of McGill, celebrated Working Girl's 30th anniversary on Instagram.

She shared an image of the movie's poster, along with a caption that read: '30 years ago today Working Girl opened in theatres world wide [sic].

'I am so grateful to have played Tess McGill and to have helped empower women all of these years.

She continued: 'I am so grateful and proud to have been a part of this marvellous cast and especially grateful to our director Mike Nichols. So happy it stands the test of time.

Photo credit: Ron Galella - Getty Images
Photo credit: Ron Galella - Getty Images

'So … here's to all of the working people who dare to dream big and who have the courage to believe in themselves against all odds!!

'Go for it!! [sic].'

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