Mean Girls Musical Remake Trailer Is Going To Make You Feel Ancient
Paramount Pictures has released the first official trailer for the Mean Girls movie musical. The film is derived from the stage musical of the same name, which, in turn, drew its inspiration from the original Mean Girls, which was based on Rosalind Wiseman’s non-fiction book, Queen Bees and Wannabes. The project is directed by Arturo Perez Jr. and Samantha Jayne from a screenplay by Tina Fey.
The new Mean Girls will see Reneé Rapp reprise her role as Regina George from the stage play. Joining her in the cast are Angourie Rice as Cady, Auli’i Cravalho as Janis, and Jaquel Spivey as Damian. Bebe Wood and Avantika Vandanapu will take on the roles of Gretchen and Karen, respectively. Tina Fey returns as Ms. Norbury. Tim Meadows reprises his role as Principal Duvall.
Per the official synopsis, the Mean Girls musical brings a new twist to the beloved story. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the upper tier of the social hierarchy by the exclusive clique known as The Plastics. The trio consists of cunning queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika).
However, complications arise when Cady, in a significant blunder, develops feelings for Regina’s ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney). This sets off a chain of events where Cady becomes the target of Regina’s schemes. Determined to challenge Regina’s dominance, Cady gets help from her outsider friends, Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey).
The original Mean Girls, directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey, was released in 2004. The movie, starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams as Cady Heron and Regina George, respectively, is a satirical take on the dynamics of high school girl cliques. Cady initially befriends The Plastics to study their behavior and undermine them, but she soon finds herself being drawn into their world.
Mean Girls received positive reviews from critics who praised it for its sharp humor, witty writing, and strong performances. The film’s commentary on teenage cliques and high school culture also struck a chord with viewers. The movie was a commercial success, earning over $129 million worldwide. A sequel, Mean Girls 2, was released in 2011 and did not feature any of the original cast.
Mean Girls was adapted into a musical by Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond, and Nell Benjamin. The production made its Broadway debut in 2018, receiving positive reviews. While the play retained much of the original film’s plot, there were a few subtle alterations. Aside from the obvious inclusion of songs, the narrative was altered for a contemporary audience by incorporating modern technology.
Some characters’ last names changed, while Aaron Samuels and Janis Sarkisian were given larger backstories. For the 2024 movie, Richmond told The Hollywood Reporter that the creative team would update the score for a fresher take on the material, which will help reach a wider audience.
“What we’re trying to do [with the movie] is take the score that sounds like a Broadway score – in a good way – and [give] the movie a fresher palette. To make it sound more like stuff you want to listen to on Spotify, as opposed to when you’re sitting eighth row at a Broadway show or the Pantages,” Richmond said. The Mean Girls musical movie is set for release on January 12, 2024.
