After 16 years away, it took some convincing for Jamie Lee Curtis to return as Laurie Strode in Halloween 2018, by a surprising person. While Curtis has had a career most actors would envy, she'll probably always be best known for playing Michael Myers' sometimes sister, always target in the long-running Halloween slasher franchise. That's nothing to be ashamed of, as the Halloween movies are beloved by millions, as Curtis has seen on the rare occasions she's done public appearances around horror fans.
That's despite the odd fact that Curtis has been quite upfront about her dislike of horror movies, saying that she hates being scared. One would never know that watching her act in them though, or goof around in behind the scenes clips from their sets. She certainly isn't the first Hollywood figure to get famous for doing horror while not being a fan of it though, and she won't be the last. Fans don't seem to hold it against her, outside of taking issue with some of her comments about showing horror to children.
Curtis originated the character of Laurie Strode in 1978, then returned 20 years later after a long absence for Halloween H20. Her returning again 40 years after the original in 2018 seemed appropriate, but it was by no means an immediately done deal.
Halloween 2018: How Jamie Lee Curtis Was Convinced To Return As Laurie Strode
Jamie Lee Curtis was understandably hesitant about returning for a new Halloween film, which makes sense after last taking part in the awful Halloween: Resurrection. It turns out that the main reason she agreed to meet with Halloween 2018 director David Gordon Green and talk about his ideas for her reprisal of Laurie Strode was advice from none other than Jake Gyllenhaal. The future Spider-Man: Far From Home star had nothing to do with Halloween 2018, but he had recently worked with Green on the Boston Marathon bombing drama Stronger, and is a close family friend of Curtis, who refers to him as her "unofficial godson."
Gyllenhaal personally went to bat for Green, talking up the director to Curtis, and stressing what a great experience he had working on Stronger. This convinced Curtis to get in touch with Green, and she quickly determined that he had a similar creative mindset to original Halloween director John Carpenter. Curtis agreed to play Laurie Strode again, Halloween 2018 became a hit, and now she's set to return for two more Halloween films directed by Green. Oddly enough, Halloween fans owe a debt to Jake Gyllenhaal.
