Is the New ‘Mean Girls’ Movie A Sequel or A Remake? It’s Complicated!

That’s so fetch! While January is typically a slow month for movies, the new Mean Girls adaptation is shaping up to be a big release. But many people are confused over what it actually is? Is the movie a musical? Is it a sequel or a remake of the 2004 hit? Here’s everything you need to know.

Well, the answer is yes, not really, and… yes. The new movie is based on the 2018 Broadway musical of the same name, created by Jeff Richmond, Nell Benjamin, and Tina Fey, the latter of whom starred in the preceding flick.

The plot of the stage production follows the 2004 movie quite closely and the 2024 is expected to do the same, albeit with a few modernizations. Both adaptations feature the same cast of characters, including Regina George, Cady Heron, and Aaron Samuels.

The musical premiered in Washington, D.C. at the National Theater in 2018 before opening on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre the following year. During its run, which ended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards.

The College Lives of Sex Girls star Reneé Rapp starred in the Broadway musical, taking over the role of Regina from original cast member Taylor Louderman, and will be reprising her role in the upcoming movie. Ashley Park, whose breakout role was in Emily in Paris, starred in the original Broadway cast as Gretchen Wieners and will appear in the 2024 movie in a new role.

Mean-Girls-2024-Talent-Show- — Photo: Paramount Pictures

In addition to welcoming cast members from the Broadway musical, several actors from the 2004 movie will be reprising their roles, like Fey as Ms. Norbury and Tim Meadows as Principal Duvall.

The synopsis for the 2024 adaptation reads, “New student Cady Heron is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called ‘The Plastics,’ ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George and her minions Gretchen and Karen. However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels, she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs.”

Mean-Girls-Principal — Photo: Paramount Pictures

As the movie continues, Cady decides to infiltrate the cliche with the help of her outcast friends Janis and Damian.

There you have it! The movie musical is an adaptation of a stage musical that’s based on a movie that’s based on a book. In layman’s terms, it’s a musical and it’s a remake.

WHO IS PART OF THE MEAN GIRLS CAST?

Angourie Rice stars as Cady Heron with Rapp as Regina George, Auliʻi Cravalho as Janis ‘Imi’ike, Christopher Briney as Aaron Samuels, Jaquel Spivey as Damian Hubbard, Bebe Wood as Gretchen Wieners, Avantika as Karen Shetty, Jenna Fischer as Ms. Heron, Busy Philipps as Mrs. George, and Jon Hamm as Coach Carr.