Amazon MGM Moves Forward With a Modern Reimagining of Diane Keaton’s Classic Comedy Baby Boom

Amazon MGM Studios has officially begun developing a modern reimagining of the 1987 comedy Baby Boom, originally led by the late Diane Keaton. The new version will be directed by Michael Showalter, known for films like The Big Sick and The Idea of You, marking his latest collaboration with producers Jordana Mollick and Stacey Sher.

Showalter will also produce the project alongside Mollick through their company Semi-Formal Productions, while Sher joins the team via her company Shiny Penny. Katie Aquino will executive-produce for Shiny Penny, and Emily Crook is overseeing the film for Semi-Formal.

The studio has described the project as a “modern reimagining” of the original film but has not yet revealed its cast or its screenwriters. No plot details have been shared, which means it’s currently unclear how closely the new version will follow the 1987 storyline or how it will adapt the film’s themes for contemporary audiences.

This announcement arrives six weeks after Diane Keaton’s death at age 79, which occurred due to pneumonia. Keaton’s family publicly confirmed the cause of death, and her passing led to tributes from collaborators and fans worldwide. You can read more about her life and legacy in this ABC News report.

In the original 1987 film, Keaton played J.C. Wiatt, a high-powered New York businesswoman whose life dramatically changes when she unexpectedly inherits her cousin’s baby. The movie was directed by Charles Shyer and written by Shyer and Nancy Meyers, a filmmaking team that reunited with Keaton multiple times, including on Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), and Meyers’ 2003 hit Something’s Gotta Give. The original Baby Boom grossed $26 million worldwide against a $15 million budget and earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Actress for Keaton.

Meyers shared a heartfelt tribute to Keaton shortly after her passing, describing her as a fearless and singular presence, both as a friend and as an actress. She expressed that working with Keaton “changed my life,” emphasizing the strong creative connection they shared over nearly four decades.

The 1987 film featured a supporting cast including Sam Shepard, Harold Ramis, Sam Wanamaker, and James Spader. Its success led to a short-lived NBC sitcom adaptation in 1988, which ran for 10 episodes and starred Kate Jackson in the lead role. Wanamaker reprised his film role, and the twin actresses Kristina and Michelle Kennedy, who played the baby in the movie, returned for the series as well.

Baby Boom isn’t the only Keaton-connected project resurfacing after her death. Just last week, Thomas Bezucha, the writer-director of the 2005 holiday dramedy The Family Stone, confirmed he is developing a sequel to the original film. You can find more on that announcement in this People Magazine article.

As Amazon MGM continues developing the new Baby Boom, more details regarding casting, writing, and story direction are expected to be announced. For now, the reboot signals renewed interest in Keaton’s body of work and a desire to reintroduce her most memorable roles to new audiences.