Mean Girls 2024 Release: The Good, the Pink and the Plastic

While not a direct copy of the 2004 classic, Mean Girls 2024 will surely be its own hit, especially if Fey is involved. Sprinkled with nostalgia, featuring nods to the OG film it’s about to be a walk down memory lane with a twist. So, join the Plastics, and let’s make this movie night one for the books…not the Burn Book! We’ve got the scoop on all things Mean Girls, past, present, and plastic, so “get in, loser!”

With the support of outcast friends Janis and Damian, played by Auli’i Cravalho (2024) and Jaquel Spivey (2024), Cady navigates the treacherous landscape of high school while trying to stay true to herself. Rather than undergoing a complete transformation from the 2004 film, which Tina Fey based on Rosalind Wiseman’s 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes, the new Mean Girls takes cues from the Broadway musical version of the story. 

She dubs it a “very specific version” with a niche appeal, Rapp gives a shoutout to the brilliant Tina Fey, the creative force behind both the movie magic and the Broadway show’s book. The entire team gets a standing ovation for their exceptional job in bringing this beloved story to life. According to Rapp, the cast infuses the production with a youthful and undeniably cool energy that makes this musical a must-see sensation!

Tom paid close attention to the details bringing what will hopefully be some new and equally iconic moments and it all starts from the behind-the-scenes costume details. From sneaking in Easter eggs, to modernizing iconic looks, and more, Mean Girls 2024 does not disappoint.

“It feels like a familiar enough story, but it’s for today.” Tony Award-nominee Jaquel Spivey, who is portraying the lively Damian, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the team’s ambition to create not a replication but a vibrant, contemporary rendition.

Their creative journey involved substantial changes, prioritizing inclusivity with a diverse cast and characters. “Representation is extremely important,” emphasized Jayne. “To see yourself reflected on screen is everything, so we wanted our actors to bring themselves to this role in every way possible.” Brace yourself for a reinvented classic that pays homage to its roots while boldly stepping into the modern spotlight!

In the 2004 movie and its 2011 sequel, the inspiration for North Shore was drawn from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, complemented by exterior shots from the Etobicoke Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Established in the 1960s, the school served as the ideal filming location, having closed its doors as an educational institute in 2022. This vacancy paved the way for grand productions like Mean Girls to transform the space into a cinematic haven. Prepare for a nostalgic trip back to North Shore High, this time with some New Jersey flare!

They decided to sprinkle in some original songs to match the bedroom pop vibes taking over the music scene. Richmond spilled to Entertainment Weekly that, “People doing bedroom pop is very popular, basically producing all their songs in the bedroom. So that was our initial approach, but I wanted to bend the songs a little bit more to sound like radio hits, so we were changing the palette from Broadway to radio.”

This is not for lack of trying, Briney originally turned down the role because he didn’t want to sing but after some adjustments agreed to take part as long as he didn’t have to test his musical chops. Oh, and remember how Cady used to narrate? Well, get ready for a music fest because now, it’s all about narrating through catchy tunes! 

Tim Meadows, the man who brought him to life in the original film, reclaims his spot on the screen for another round of high school shenanigans. Mean Girls 2024 doesn’t just stop at the familiar cameos, the plot thickens as these characters embark on a new twist in their story lines.

But that’s not all – love is in the air at North Shore High. Mr. Duvall has taken the plunge into married life with none other than Ms. Norbury herself. Yes, they’ve officially gone from dance partners in the 2004 film to the power couple of 2024.

A fresh twist, a dash of humor, and the perfect amount of sass to modernize the OG movie. In the wise words of Bebe Wood, the fabulous Gretchen Weiners, directors Sam and Art hit the jackpot with their ingenious idea – “What if Janis and Damian directed their own high school experience?” Talk about turning the tables! 

But when Tina Fey is at the helm of a project that reimagines Mean Girls and blends in the Broadway musical’s magic, who wouldn’t be over the moon? Cravalho, our little theater kid at heart, couldn’t contain her excitement, expressing the sheer joy of being part of this sensational world that is Mean Girls.

Tom, our style maestro, and his costume squad aren’t flipping through outdated fashion magazines; they’re scrolling through social media feeds and absorbing the streetwear vibes to redefine the looks of our favorite Mean Girls characters. It’s like fashion heaven meets the digital age, and the result is a 2024 version that’s not just fashionable but bursting with energy, sass, and New York essence.

She unleashes the sprinklers on Regina when she snags the homecoming queen title, giving us the iconic “wet look” comeback that floods social media. Mean Girls 2024 still pays homage to the classics though – Regina’s cut-out bra shirt from 2004 makes a cameo during the Halloween party shenanigans!

Norbury decided to pull a classic move, proving that some styles are timeless. It’s like a blast from the past with a dash of new romance – Tina Fey is not just reprising a role; she’s giving it a grool makeover. Get ready for Mrs. Norbury 2.0, bringing sass, style, and a whole lot of polka dots to the Mean Girls legacy!

Karen, our queen of quirky, struts around with a backward “K” necklace, giving a playful salute to a specific 2004 scene. Tom spilled the beans to BuzzFeed, admitting he had a mini panic about whether people would catch on. The big reveal? Not a peep from the set when Karen sported the backward bling.

Picture this: Damian in the audience, giving the performance a sassy “Thank you, next” comment. It’s not just a diss; it’s a nod to Ariana Grande’s hit song and album from 2019. The winter talent show looks? Total Ariana Grande vibes, thanks to the directors getting inspo from the “Thank U, Next” music video.

Singing the line adds a touch of whimsy and surrealism, giving a nod to its iconic status. And hey, the musical vibes don’t stop there – we’ve got characters playing instruments in the background. Because in Mean Girls 2024, we don’t just talk; we sing, dance, and make every day feel like a Broadway spectacle!

As the competition heats up, Lohan’s character drops a sly bombshell – only one tie in the history of States, a cheeky nod to the tiebreaker madness in Mean Girls 2024. And here’s the twist: Lindsay’s character stays mysteriously unnamed, leaving the door wide open for wild theories and fan connections between the two Mean Girls flicks.

And guess what? Gretchen’s still getting the classic Regina eye-roll with a side of, “Stop trying to make fetch happen!” So, buckle up for a linguistic joyride that spans years, movies, and Gretchen’s undying quest for fetch glory. 

And if that wasn’t enough to get you buzzing, guess who’s dropping beats and making the soundtrack even more fire? None other than Megan Thee Stallion, teaming up with the talented Rapp for the catchy track “Not My Fault.”

Yet, here’s the delightful revelation: Reneé Rapp’s rendition of the line leans more towards teasing than commanding, injecting a dash of playfulness into this iconic directive contrast to Rachel McAdams’s Regina in the original. Who needs a mall when Regina’s house steals the spotlight? It’s truly an iconic moment reinterpreted in Mean Girls.

In the Broadway show, she flirted with a red she-devil look, but hey, they didn’t want to be predictable. So, after some epic powwows with Tina Fey and the directors, they hatched a plan involving a golden vulture, embracing a birds-of-prey kind of theme, modernizing an iconic scene once again. 

Ashley not only owned the Gretchen role on Broadway, earning herself a Tony nomination for her fabulous performance, but now she’s back, trading in the pink for a beret. And who’s that causing a hilarious ruckus in the health and human sexuality class? None other than Jon Hamm steps into the shoes of Carr, the charmingly clueless teacher who struggles with spelling “vasectomy” and “hormones.”

Whisper the word “musical,” and suddenly people think every line is belted out. One studio marketer spilled the tea, saying that spelling out the M-word triggers preconceived opinions, and audiences might run faster than Regina George into that school bus. There is more to this than just a Musical and you surely won’t be disappointed, especially if you loved the original even if you didn’t this one is a stand-alone. 

This clever incorporation of the Broadway twist showcases the team’s knack for blending nostalgia with a fresh take, ensuring Mean Girls 2024 carries the torch of the beloved original 2004 film while adding its own vibrant, musical-infused twist.

And there’s more drama in the air—literally! Regina, on her revenge spree, rocks a gray sweatshirt that boldly screams “dramátic.” A nod to the OG Mean Girls aesthetic, anyone. Drama, revenge, and chaos – the Plastics truly know how to make an entrance!

Get excited because Mean Girls is going to be so “Fetch” no matter where you watch it or who you watch it with, just make sure you remember to wear pink, especially on Wednesday, or else you can’t watch with us.