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Get in, losers, there’s a new one Mean girls movie coming!
On Wednesday, Paramount shared the first trailer for the upcoming comedy, which updates the beloved 2004 film with inspiration from the hit Broadway musical that followed – both written and produced by Tina Fey.
“It felt like we could have the best of both worlds,” Fey said of updating the Mean girls story for the new film in ET’s exclusive behind-the-scenes look. “We could have this great music while still living with our characters in close-up – to be able to have new jokes and new moments that are surprising to people.”
The film is co-directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., and features music by executive producer Jeff Richmond, who also wrote the score for the film. Mean girls musical.
“The main thing I felt was important this time about working for the screen was finding ways to make it new and surprising for people,” Fey added. “I think I’ve realized over the years that these characters and this story have had a much longer shelf life than anyone could have expected. So if I do something new with them, I think people will be surprised.”
Here’s a look at everything we know about the upcoming film:
TRAILER
The first Mean girls trailer shows how the story has been refreshed with new technology like TikTok and Snapchat, while also offering plenty of Easter eggs for fans of the original. (Note: “She’s not even going here!” Damian.)
Watch the full trailer – which of course features the iconic Christmas dance – below:
FORM
Angourie Rice as Cady Heron
Best known for roles in Honor society and Tom Hollands Spider-Man trilogy, Rice steps into the fish-out-of-water protagonist story of Cady Heron, played by Lindsay Lohan in the original.
“She has the kind of deep intelligence that Cady needs,” Fey raved about her new leading man. Cady has to be really smart, and Angourie just delivers on that, and has great timing and is just kind of radiant on screen.”
Renée Rapp as Regina George
Rapp, who had a run as the Queen of the Plastics in the Mean girls Broadway show returns to embody the OG mean girl originated by Rachel McAdams in the 2004 film.
“We had seen her audition for the Broadway show, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to do Broadway,” Fey recalls of Rapp’s original cast. “Lorne Michaels and I invited Reneé to his office and said, ‘You have to do this. You would be wasting your talent if you don’t do this before you start your music career.’ Thank goodness she said that’s what she wanted, so she had a great run on Broadway as Regina George, and has now launched her incredible music career, which will only continue to explode.
“She’s already a fan favorite. People love her. They love her voice, they love her presence, they love her core self – her TikTok presence – which is good because Regina has to be a three-dimensional villain” , she says. added. “You don’t want it to be a two-dimensional person that you hate. You see Reneé come into these scenes and be scary, but she’s also kind of compelling, and you’re like, ‘I kind of want her to do that.'” I like me. Does she like me?'”
Bebe Wood as Gretchen Wieners
Wood plays the rightful heir to the Toaster Strudel fortune, who broke through as a 10-year-old actress on The new normal before starring in shows like The real O’Neals And Love, Victor — follows Lacey Chabert as Regina’s devious right-hand man Plastic.
“Her tape just jumped off the screen when she auditioned for the movie,” Fey recalls. “It was just immediate for me, and for Lorne Michaels. We were like, ‘Well, there’s Gretchen. That’s our Gretchen.'”
“Gretchen also has to be very intelligent, but have a core of vulnerability that still has to be comedic,” she added. “And Bebe only understood that from the jump.”
Avantika as Karen Shetty
The actress, who got her start in Telagu cinema before breaking into English-language films like Last year And PlayAvantika freshens up the ditsy but sweet role of Karen, created by Amanda Seyfried.
“Similarly, we were like, ‘There’s Karen!’ Right when we saw her tape,” Fey recalls of the 18-year-old actress’ casting. “She’s stunningly beautiful. She has the kind of innocent, kind core that Karen needs, and she has that warmth.”
Auli’i Cravalho as Janis ‘Imi’ike
The Moana Star plays a reimagined version of the misunderstood outcast who first befriends Cady. Although there’s a bit more color in her wardrobe this time around, Cravalho has the right attitude to channel By Lizzy Caplan original version of the character.
“She’s great,” Fey enthused. “She’s also one of the most, I don’t know if you say telegenic for film? Is she cinematic? But she’s one of the most beautiful actors on screen. Her face is just – you could just watch dailies of her hours .”
“And she brings the kind of fierceness that Janis needs, the foundation of resentment over what was done to her in the past,” she added. “You completely believe she is an artist because Auli’i is an artist in her own way.”
Jacquel Spivey as Damian Hubbard
The stage actor makes his film debut in mean girls, Janis’ BFF, Damian, who was portrayed in the original – famously as “too gay to function” – by Daniel Franzese.
‘I saw Jaquel come in Strange loop on Broadway, and immediately thought, ‘This guy is incredible,'” Fey recalled.” It will come as no surprise to anyone that he is incredibly talented and hilarious, and also has that kind of warmth that Damian needs. Damian really cares about his friend Janis. He cares about his friend Cady. And yes, Jaquel is great.”
Christopher Briney as Aaron Samuels
Familiar with on-screen love triangles from his starring role in The summer I became beautifulBriney takes on the role of dreamy love interest for both Cady and Regina – originally played by Jonathan Bennett.
Busy Philipps as Mrs. George
Amy Poehler’s scene-stealing performance as Regina’s over-enthusiastic and out-of-touch mother was a fan favorite from the original, leaving Philipps with large implants to fill. But the trailer shows that the Cougartown star has just the manic energy for the performance.
‘Sure, Regina! Certainly!’ she answers when her daughter orders her to “go make snacks.”
Jenna Fischer as Mrs. Heron
The office star plays the mother role that Fey’s has SNL castmate, Ana Gasteyer, originated in the 2004 film.
Tina Fey as Mrs. Norbury
Fey reprises her role as math teacher Mrs. Norbury in the upcoming film – although we’re concerned about her second job, as chain restaurants like “PJ Calamity’s” haven’t fared well in the years since the original film.
Tim Meadows as Director Duvall
Probably as exhausted as ever by the populated Gen Z student body, Meadows is also back in his original role from the beginning. Mean girls. But considering he’s managed to keep his job all these years, we doubt he’s still wielding that baseball bat.
Jon Hamm as Coach Carr
Arguably one of the roles most likely to be revisited due to modern sensibilities, Hamm plays Coach Carr, who unfortunately also happens to be the students’ sex ed teacher. The role was played by Dwayne Hill in the original film, which also revealed that the coach was a sexual predator who had relationships with students.
Ashley Park as Mrs. Park
A new role for the updated film, the Emily in Paris Star plays a French teacher who insists that Cady, Janis and Damian choose new French names for her class, rejecting the latter’s suggestions of “Chanel,” “Celine Dion” and “Beyoncé.”
POSTERS
DATE OF PUBLICATION
Although originally slated for a streaming release on Paramount+, Mean girls will hit theaters on January 12, 2024.
Fey’s interview took place ahead of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which began on July 14, 2023.
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