The Mean Girls franchise evolves again: from 2002 book to 2024 musical film

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Tina Fey’s iconic high school satire has undergone a transformation. Originally a 2002 book, then a 2004 film and a Broadway musical, the story now returns to the screen as a musical comedy. This latest iteration blends familiar characters with modern social media, reimagining the Plastics for a new generation.

The 2024 adaptation of Mean Girls, directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., serves as the third entry in the franchise. While it retains the core narrative—Cady Heron’s transition from homeschooled life in Kenya to the social hierarchy of North Shore High—it draws its primary structure from the 2018 Broadway musical. Tina Fey, who wrote the original 2004 screenplay and the stage show’s book, returned to pen this adaptation, ensuring continuity while updating the setting to reflect the contemporary digital age.

Transitioning from stage to screen required significant structural adjustments. The production team, including composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin, cut fourteen songs from the original musical score to tighten the runtime. They also introduced new material, such as the track 'What Ifs,' and replaced classic moments like the 'Jingle Bell Rock' performance with 'Rockin' Around the Pole.' These changes were designed to help the musical format feel natural within a film environment, where mobile technology and social media are central to the plot.

The film’s production, which took place in New Jersey in early 2023, features a mix of returning talent and new faces. While Reneé Rapp reprised her Broadway role as Regina George, other actors like Christopher Briney were cast with specific adjustments; Briney, for instance, accepted his role only after his singing requirements were removed. The film also includes a notable cameo from Lindsay Lohan, the star of the 2004 original, who appears as a Mathletes moderator. Despite receiving mixed critical feedback, the film achieved commercial success, earning over $105 million globally against a production cost of $36 million.

Ultimately, the 2024 film acts as a bridge between the franchise's various incarnations. By incorporating elements from the stage show while maintaining the spirit of the 2004 classic, the project highlights the enduring nature of Rosalind Wiseman’s original observations about teenage social dynamics. It remains a study of how stories can be successfully repackaged across different media, provided they adapt to the cultural context of their time.

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