How The Mean Girls Directors Found Someone To Compete With Linsday Lohan

It's not uncommon to see things be remade nowadays. Nostalgia is a huge selling point right now, which means a ton of films, games, and TV shows from the past are being revamped and returned to the spotlight. That includes the teen comedy movie 'Mean Girls,' which somehow turns 20 in 2024.

Although the new musical version of the film isn't technically a remake - it's based on the 'Mean Girls' stage show - it still bears significant similarities to what came before. For instance, the main characters are all the same, which means the new cast will inevitably be compared to the old one. Luckily, many of them do a stellar job, especially once learning how the ‘Mean Girls’ directors found someone to compete with Lindsay Lohan.

Some of the cast already had experience in the Mean Girls franchise

Casting for the 2024 version of 'Mean Girls' wasn't difficult in some cases. After all, Reneé Rapp - who appears as Regina George - had already starred as the leader of The Plastics in the stage musical. Not everyone who features in the film was brought over from the stage, though. Angourie Rice had no prior relationship with the 'Mean Girls' franchise before she landed the leading part of Cady Heron. Her most notable work was in the Marvel Universe, where she played Betty Brant across several of the superhero 'Spider-Man' movies. She definitely wasn't an unknown, having been landing professional roles for a decade. However, Brant didn't have the advantage that someone like Rapp did because of past work.

Lindsay Lohan's original impact made casting Cady Heron somewhat difficult

While Angourie Rice might have been unknown in the world of 'Mean Girls,' she still managed to score herself a role as one of the movie's most notable characters. Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. - who directed the new film - actually believe that Cady Heron was probably the toughest character to cast. A big part of that was down to the legacy Lindsay Lohan left behind, with the actress' performance in 'Mean Girls' arguably one of her best ever. Cady and Regina are the two characters that probably most come to mind when people think of 'Mean Girls,' with Lohan and Rachel McAdams being such big stars in the movie. As Reneée Rapp had already lived up to her predecessor's impact, having wowed in the musical, it was only Rice who really had something to prove with her casting.

The directors felt Angourie brought something "personal" and "authentic" to Cady

So, with Lindsay Lohan's performance 20 years ago posing such a great challenge to live up to, how did the directors end up with Angourie Rice? Well, in an interview with Collider, Perez said that she brought something "intimate," "personal," and "alive" to the role that fits the character perfectly. He said the actress did a perfect job of making you feel part of that journey from an innocent student to one of The Plastics and back again. Jayne added that Rice brought "authenticity" to the role and "really made it hers," much like all the cast did. With both directors admitting that they probably resonated most with Cady Heron when the original film came out, they understood what Rice needed to bring to the role. So, the fact they feel she delivered says a lot.

Lohan received a cameo, but a joke was also made at her expense

We're glad to see that what Lindsay Lohan brought to 'Mean Girls' all those years ago is not forgotten today. In fact, the actress actually got a cameo in the new film, appearing as the moderator in the Mathletes competition. It was something that Angourie told People magazine "meant so much to me," and which fans of the original will understandably appreciate. Unfortunately, it's not all good news. It seems that the 2024 movie also includes a joke where Megan Thee Stallion talks about "Y2K fire crotch" being back. This is seemingly a reference to what someone called Lohan in a video back in 2006, and the actress reportedly isn't happy about it. She's allegedly "hurt and disappointed" that they would include such a joke, considering the legacy that she has in the 'Mean Girls' franchise.

Some may feel that a new 'Mean Girls' movie is unnecessary, given the original was very much a product of its time. However, the musical twist and the way it's updated for the modern day make it stand out enough from the first film. Plus, with such great casting choices, at least you know there are people in this movie who will do the original justice.