Summary
- The Mean Girls movie is not a sequel or a remake, but rather a stage-to-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, introducing the story in a fresh way while paying homage to the original.
- Some original cast , including Tina Fey and Tim Meadows, will be returning for the new movie, adding a connection to the 2004 film.
- The trailer for the movie hides its musical genre by excluding the original songs, likely as a creative decision to focus on the characters and build anticipation for fans who know and love the beloved songs from the musical.
Deemed one of the most iconic films of the 2000s, a new Mean Girls movie arriving in 2024 has found a way to connect to the original in a unique and captivating way. In 2004, audiences were first introduced to Cady Heron as she moved to the suburbs of Chicago and quickly learned about the trials and tribulations of public high school. She found herself embedded into a group of popular, shallow students dubbed "The Plastics," and struggled to navigate this new world of cliques. With a screenplay written by Tina Fey, it is no surprise that the script remains biting and comedic, giving way to endless memorable one-liners and the desire to translate the story into different mediums.
Thanks to that well-written script and Mean Girls movie being released in January 2024. Given that the Mean Girls movie is highly anticipated, there has been much speculation as to how it fits into the existing movies and whether it is another sequel, like the TV film, Mean Girls 2.
Is The New Mean Girls Movie A Remake Or A Sequel?
The new Mean Girls adapts the stage musical into a movie, rather than a full remake of the 2004 original
The movie's first trailer has confirmed that the 2024 Mean Girls movie is definitely not a sequel. It is also not an exact remake of the original film, which works to its advantage as it does not have the pressure of trying to live up to it. Instead, it is a stage-to-screen adaptation of the 2017 Broadway show of the same name, which in turn is a musical adaptation of the 2004 movie. This serves as an opportunity to re-introduce the world to Mean Girls in a fresh way that still pays homage to the original story. It can still include all of the Mean Girls references that have become so popular, while also creating something new that adds to the franchise.
Despite not being a sequel, some of the original cast will be returning for the new Mean Girls adaptation, giving it an additional tie to the 2004 film. Tina Fey penned and starred in the original movie, was involved in the Broadway musical, and is returning for an on-screen role in the 2024 movie. In addition to writing and producing the Mean Girls movie, Fey is reprising her role as Ms. Norbury. Tim Meadows will also be returning as Principal Duvall, though the rest of the characters are being played by new actors.
Mean Girls 2024 Is Actually A Musical (Despite The Trailer)
Mean Girls' trailer hides its musical genre
Although the movie is a musical, the trailer seems to hide that fact, choosing to exclude the original songs. Instead, it utilizes Olivia Rodrigo's song "get him back!" throughout, which has caused confusion as to what exactly this movie is in of genre. Despite not being showcased in the trailer, it has been confirmed that the film's music is by Jeff Richmond with the lyrics written by Neil Benjamin. It's unclear exactly why Mean Girls' trailer disguised its status as a musical, but this was likely a creative decision on behalf of the studio, Paramount.
The 2004 Mean Girls movie is available to stream on Paramount+, Showtime, Pluto TV, and Fubo TV.
By opting to exclude the songs from the trailer, audiences are focused on the debut and first look at the characters, reminding them of the similarities to the original movie rather than the differences that the songs introduce. This also builds anticipation and buzz, as those who have seen the musical know what to look forward to in of the beloved songs. It is unclear whether the songs will be shared in trailers prior to Mean Girls' release on January 12, 2024, but it's expected that the majority of the tunes from the Broadway show will be included on the film adaptation's soundtrack.
