The “Mean Girls” Are About To Get Meaner and More Melodious

Paramount Pictures will welcome the world on January 12, 2024, with its first release, “Mean Girls”, which is a musical comedy based on a Broadway musical.

Both stem from “Mean Girls,” a non-musical 2004 film directed by American filmmaker, Mark Waters.

The original movie, featuring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, and Tina Fey, portrayed 16-year-old Cady Heron’s journey from Africa to North Shore High School in Illinois.

Fast forward 20 years, the mean girls are back with lots of fanfare, melody and a whole pinker. Angourie Rice will step into Lohan’s shoes as Cady with Renee Rapp assuming the role of Regina George previously played by McAdams. Starring alongside Rice and Rapp are Christopher Briney, Ashley Park, Avantika Vandanapu, Jenner Fischer, Bebe Woods, and Busy Phillips, all under the watchful eyes and hands of directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.

Only Fey and Meadows will be reprising their roles with the former also returning with her screenplay. Fey had previously expressed her doubt on the possibility of the original cast reprising their roles to Variety in May 2021, initially opting for fan-cast actors.

Equally making a comeback are Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin to make some more magic on their songs from the stage musical.

Principal photography occurred in Middle Township, New Jersey in mid-2023. It was initially slated for a premiere on Paramount+, until a theatrical release was prioritized.

Mark Waters’ 2004 classic, which has since garnered a cult following, left big shoes to fill for debut feature-film directors, Samantha Jayne, and Arturo Perez Jr. The question of whether they will deliver will find an answer come January.

“Mean Girls” will premiere in New York City, on January 8, 2024, and will be released to international audiences four days later, on January 12.

Watch the trailer here