Dolly Parton's Dream Project Still Stuck in Development Hell
The country music icon has spent decades trying to bring back her most beloved movie characters, but Hollywood keeps saying no. Now there's a new twist that could change everything.
When Americans think about true national treasures, Dolly Parton tops every list. She wrote 'I Will Always Love You' before Whitney Houston made it famous. Her Dollywood Foundation has changed countless lives. She even helped fund COVID vaccine research while most celebrities posted selfies.
But there's one thing this entertainment powerhouse can't seem to make happen. A sequel to her breakout movie.
The Film That Made Her a Star
Back in 1980, Parton stepped onto movie screens in '9 to 5' alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The workplace comedy struck gold. Three women plotting revenge against their horrible boss? Pure magic.
Parton played Doralee Rhodes, a secretary dealing with sexual harassment. She brought both heart and humor to the role. The chemistry between all three leads was undeniable.
The movie earned Parton three Golden Globe nominations. Her theme song hit number one on the charts and scored an Oscar nomination. That track became her signature tune, defining 1980 for millions of Americans.
Decades of Failed Attempts
Since then, Parton has been chasing lightning in a bottle. She wants that sequel more than almost anything in her career.
'Jane, Lily and I have been trying for years to try to come up with a 9 to 5: Two through the years. It never happened,' she told HuffPost.
The first attempt came in the 1980s. Tom Mankiewicz was set to write the script. Then Jane Fonda pulled out. Project dead.
More recently, another sequel looked promising. The trio seemed ready to reunite. Workplace harassment was back in the headlines thanks to #MeToo. Perfect timing, right?
Wrong again.
The Script Problem
Parton explained the real issue in 2019. 'I don't think we're going to do the sequel. We never could get the script where it was enough different than the first one, and that one turned out so good.'
Writers kept recycling the same ideas. How do you top perfection? The original movie captured something special about American workplace culture. Recreating that magic proved impossible.
Now Jennifer Aniston is producing a remake instead of a sequel. Different approach, same beloved story. Maybe that's what audiences will get instead of seeing the original trio back together.
Parton remains hopeful though. At 80, she's still game for another round with Fonda and Tomlin. The question is whether Hollywood will finally give her what she's been asking for all these years.