Film Adaptation of ‘Mean Girls’ Musical Awaits Director, Says Tina Fey

The movie adaptation for the Mean Girls musical (which premiered in October 2017), is continuing its search for a director. Mean Girls, a stage musical, is based on the 2004 hit film of the same name.

This musical adaptation of the film is based on the book penned by Tina Fey, has music composed by Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Tina had also written the screenplay for the 2004 film.

According to a new interview with Variety, Fey disclosed that the hunt for a director was still on. She said:

“We’re still relatively early on. We’re looking for a director right now. The first time we had new actors play these roles [on Broadway], it was like breaking the seal, like, now these roles belong to more than one set of actors.”

Tina Fey

She expressed her excitement for actors that would be cast in this movie. And we all know she is particularly talking about “The Plastics.”

The Mean Girls musical premiered at the National Theatre, Washington DC, in October 2017. It later opened on Broadway in April 2018 at the August Wilson Theatre and was a massive hit.

When asked about whether the Broadway actors would reprise their role in the upcoming film, Fey said that they were supposedly “too old”. She also didn’t seem keen on directing the movie all by herself.

The information of the musical adapted for the big screen for Paramount Pictures first came around in January 2020. Tina Fey had then quoted about how she felt about Mean Girls personally:

“It’s been incredibly gratifying to see how much the movie and the musical have meant to audiences. I’ve spent sixteen years with these characters now. They are my Marvel Universe and I love them dearly.”

Tina Fey

The 2004 movie has garnered much appreciation from the audience over the years. It highlighted some critical issues such as bullying, which is still relevant in modern times.

The film had also shown a great student-teacher dynamic by casting Tina Fey as Ms. Norbury. It displayed the usual friendship and rivalry circle of a school.

But if a Mean Girls musical movie is to be made in this modern era, some of the points should be taken into consideration. It should avoid the “eye for an eye” storyline (eg. Cady’s scheme), which was dominant in the 2004 version.

It should avoid the homophobic mentality, slut-shaming, and name-calling which was evident in the movie.

Rest assured, if Tina Fey assumes the mantle of screenplay writing for this movie, she will address these important issues.

Source: Variety