Tina Fey has officially announced an end to adaptations of the beloved franchise, “Mean Girls.” The iconic film, which debuted in 2004, inspired a Broadway musical that premiered in 2018 and is set to see a new movie musical release in 2024, featuring Renée Rapp in the role of Regina George. Fey shared her reflections on the legacy of “Mean Girls” during a recent conversation at the HISTORYTalks event held in Philadelphia.
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In her discussion with Damian Holbrook, Fey highlighted the journey of “Mean Girls” from a film to a stage production, and now a movie musical. “We always, in every iteration, tried to honour the source material, which is like a sociology book about how to help girls through relational aggression and behaviours like that,” she explained, underscoring her intent to balance humour with meaningful commentary.
The original film featured notable actors such as Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert, characters who have since become pop culture staples. Fey noted, despite the film’s comedic elements, it ultimately serves as a cautionary tale regarding the consequences of negative behaviour, particularly within female friendships.
With her characteristic wit, the 55-year-old writer and actress reassured fans that there will be no additional adaptations in the future. “I promise there are no more iterations coming,” she stated unequivocally. Nevertheless, Fey recognised the multidimensional portrayals brought by the actors in the series, contributing to its enduring popularity. “Every actor who has approached the project brings a 3D humanity to those characters,” she added.
Reflecting on the film’s legacy, Rachel McAdams, who portrayed Regina George, reminisced about her initial audition. “I loved the script so much. I remember closing that script and calling up my manager and saying, ‘Please, even just playing a character that has one line I would take,’ ” she shared. Her transition from auditioning for the lead role of Cady Heron, originally portrayed by Lohan, to playing the iconic villain Regina, was a significant turn in her career.
The Broadway musical adaptation came over a decade after the film’s release, with Tina Fey’s husband, Jeff Richmond, composing the original songs alongside lyricist Nell Benjamin. The show saw several cast changes before its closure in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with performers like Sabrina Carpenter and Renée Rapp advancing to leading roles during its run.
In the upcoming movie musical adaptation, Rapp will reprise her role as Regina, while Angourie Rice takes on the character of Cady. Auli’i Cravalho has been cast as Janis Ian, and Christopher Briney, known for his role in “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” will portray Aaron Samuels. “This is a very specific version of the musical that has a really specific place in a niche, culty theatre way,” Rapp remarked about the film, suggesting it would appeal to a broader audience beyond theatre enthusiasts.
Alongside her continued involvement with the “Mean Girls” franchise, Fey remains active in the television world. She recently hosted the inaugural episode of “Saturday Night Live UK,” which aired on March 21. During her opening monologue, she made light of her past roles, calling attention to her fame from “Mean Girls” as well as her portrayal of Sarah Palin on the US edition of SNL.
The episode featured surprise appearances by celebrities like Nicola Coughlan from “Bridgerton” and actor Michael Cera. Cera cheekily quipped about the relaxed atmosphere of the U.K. version of the show, which Fey confirmed allowed for more casual language and humour.
As “Mean Girls” continues to resonate with audiences over two decades later, its themes and characters remain relevant, illustrating the impact of Fey’s work. “Twenty years later, it’s just as poppin’ as it was when it came out,” said Rapp in a featurette celebrating the film’s 20th anniversary. The film’s remarkable journey—from a teen comedy to a cultural phenomenon—has ensured its place in the hearts of fans and the annals of film history.