Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson have been pals for years and were even rumored to have had an affair filming their romcom Marley & Me in 2008 – and a source exclusively tells In Touch they’re as tight as ever while helping each other’s careers and making plans to work together again in the future. 

“Marley & Me was a totally magical project for both of them,” the insider says, adding, “Owen has known Jen for more than 20 years at this point and It’s funny that all these years later you see Owen continue to look up to Jen as a role model, even though he’s slightly older than she is.”

The source notes Owen, 56, is looking at the success of Jen’s hit The Morning Show to help him score a win with his upcoming project, which remains untitled. “When it comes to Owen’s new show for Apple TV+ that’s especially true. Owen has pretty specifically leaned on Jen for advice and guidance and even the casting of Timothy Olyphant as Owen’s foil in the series echoes the dynamic Jen and Reese Witherspoon have on The Morning Show.”

The Loki actor will be working as an executive producer on the show in addition to costarring alongside Timothy Olyphant, with Ford v Ferrari writer/producer Jason Keller screenwriting and married duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris of Fleishman Is in Trouble and Little Miss Sunshine directing. The series centers around Owen’s character, Pryce Cahill, a washed-up former pro golfer whose career took a nosedive 20 years earlier, trying to wedge his way back into the sport by mentoring a 17-year old prodigy. Seeking the success of Apple TV+ predecessor Ted Lasso, Owen is definitely taking note of what worked for Jen.

“Owen wants his series to be just as popular and long-running among male viewers as The Morning Show has proven to be for Jen and Reese’s female fans, and he’s also really coming into his own as a television producer/star with this show, after more than twenty years of exclusively working in movies.”

Without a doubt, Jen, 55, is wishing the best for her long time friend as he follows in her career footsteps. “Jen is cheering him on and takes some credit for helping him come into the AppleTV+ world in the first place. They haven’t had a lot of hit shows but Jen’s is definitely one of them.”

The last collaboration between Owen and Jen was over 10 years ago, with 2014’s She’s Funny That Way, but they’ve still managed to see each other here and there. 

“The real reason Jen has such a soft spot for Owen is that she never met anybody like him and he still has such a funny, offbeat perspective on the world – one that she wishes he would share more frequently.” 

“Owen’s new series is a huge step in that direction. He can be a very guarded guy sometimes, but Jen is proud that she’s somebody who can coax him out of his shell.”