Twenty years after the release of the cult classic Mean Girls, a musical adaptation is set to hit cinemas on 17 January. The film, based on the Broadway show that was cut short by the pandemic, is written by Tina Fey and features a modern setting that has divided fans.
The first trailer, released last week, sparked debate as it gave no hint of the film's musical nature, though a subsequent clip included snippets of songs. Opening titles declare 'this is not your mother's Mean Girls', a direct appeal to Gen Z that has irked some millennial fans who grew up with the original.
The new film updates the story for 2024, incorporating elements like TikTok and Olivia Rodrigo's music, while the original's plot points—such as diet culture and slut-shaming—remain. However, some fans argue the early 2000s context is essential. 'It feels wrong to set it in the present day,' one Twitter user wrote, while another warned that the film's themes might not resonate in today's more aware society.
Original stars Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles as teachers, but the core cast is new. The Broadway show, set in 2018, retained the noughties aesthetic, but the film's contemporary update has been met with scepticism. 'I fear the contemporary Mean Girls redux will only end in disaster,' said one 22-year-old woman.
