Movies Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead gets new life in first trailer for reboot (exclusive) Nicole Richie and her jewel-toned blazers take on the legacy of Rose Lindsey. By Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where he covers breaking news, all things Real Housewives, and a rich cornucopia of popular culture. Formerly a senior editor at Out magazine, his work has appeared on NewNowNext, Queerty, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker. He was also the first author signed to Phoebe Robinson's Tiny Reparations imprint. He met Oprah once. EW's editorial guidelines Updated on March 26, 2024 02:41PM EDT Reboots are a tricky business, but with cult classics, you tend to have a bit more room. After all, a film that was ignored or maligned when it first premiered only to grow beloved over time (and through endless memes) bodes well for any followers. Time forgives most sins. When Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead opened in 1991, it was a minor box office hit savaged by critics, but today, it's meme gold. Some 30-plus years after the original, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is getting the reboot treatment, this time centering on a Black family led by a matriarch (played by comedian Ms. Pat). When mom has a nervous breakdown at work and goes to Thailand for a meditation retreat, Tanya Crandell (Simone Joy Jones) and her siblings find themselves in the care of a babysitter, the stern and elderly Mrs. Sturak (Oscar nominee June Squibb). 2024 Fence 2021 Films, LLC Spoiler alert, Mrs. Sturak dies and the Crandell kids don't want to tell mom. Cue the hijinks! In order to support her siblings, Tanya fakes her way into a fancy fashion job, working under the high-strung Rose Lindsey, played by a scene-stealing Nicole Richie in a series of statement blazers. 2024 Fence 2021 Films, LLC "I’ve been a Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead fan since day one; having the opportunity to play Rose is a dream come true," Richie tells Entertainment Weekly. For Jones, playing Tanya was "exhilarating and freeing," as she got to tap into "the most awkward and vulnerable parts of myself." She adds, "What an honor to play someone who cares so deeply and is so driven by her own goals and family triumph. I can’t wait for everyone to see it in theaters!” 2024 Fence 2021 Films, LLC Director Wade Allain-Marcus is thrilled not only to bring Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead to "a whole new audience but to reintroduce it to fans of the original" as well. "Centering this story around this family was a no-brainer," Allain-Marcus says. "Don't Tell Mom has always been about becoming an adult before your time, and we know that's true for all Black kids. Everyone involved in the film brought their A game — come for the laughs, stay for the heart, the vibe and the music.” 2024 Fence 2021 Films, LLC Check out the trailer for Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, opening April 12. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: Don't tell mom about the Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead remake teaser trailer Dead to Me star Christina Applegate, Emmy nomination predictions, and more in EW's The Awardist Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead 1992 VHS review