At the height of Megan Fox’s stardom, and following Diablo Cody’s Oscar-winning success with Juno, 20th Century Fox paired the two for Jennifer’s Body, a dark, teen-driven twist on Mean Girls.
Fox stars as a high school cheerleader who becomes possessed and transforms into a succubus, preying on her male classmates. As the body count rises, her best friend (Amanda Seyfried) must decide whether she can stop the escalating horror.
Jennifer’s Body, released by 20th Century Fox on September 18, 2009, opened in North America with approximately $6.8 million, ranking fifth at the weekend box office. The film went on to earn about $16.2 million domestically and roughly $31.6 million worldwide against a reported production budget of around $16 million. It was considered a failure.
Upon release, Jennifer’s Body received mixed-to-negative reviews, currently holding a 47% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics at the time frequently cited an uneven tone and marketing that emphasized horror over the film’s satirical elements, while some reviews (correctly) noted Diablo Cody’s dialogue and the performances of Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried as highlights.
In the years following its release, the film has undergone significant critical reassessment. Retrospective reviews have highlighted its commentary on female friendship, sexuality, and exploitation, as well as its subversion of horror tropes. This reevaluation, combined with strong interest on streaming platforms and social media, has contributed to Jennifer’s Body developing a sustained cult following, particularly among younger audiences and critics revisiting early 2000s genre films.
Despite the initial film’s lackluster release, Jennifer’s Body has gained quite a following. In fact, it was one of the more popular films on both Bloody and Dread Central.
So. Good news!
Dread Central has learned that Diablo Cody has revealed she is currently writing Jennifer’s Body 2, and that both Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried are interested in returning to their roles.
Cody revealed the news during a live panel this past weekend in Los Angeles, moderated by screenwriter Joe Russo. The 360 feature screenwriting panel featured Diablo, Nia Vardalos, Cord Jefferson, Graham Moore, and the writers of KPop Demon Hunters.
Cody explicitly told the audience she is writing the film RIGHT NOW.
With Megan Fox in the midst of a career resurgence and Amanda Seyfried coming off the box office success of The Housemaid, the timing is ideal for Diablo Cody to return with a sequel. From a thematic standpoint, the opportunity is equally strong: the original film explored gender dynamics, exploitation, and the commodification of female bodies through a horror lens… ideas that align closely with Gen Z conversations around agency, identity, and power, making a follow-up a natural continuation of that commentary.
Thoughts?
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