Breaking Down the All-Star Cast of Mean Girls 2024: Actors & Characters

Who will be playing the iconic roles in the cast of the new Mean Girls musical movie? The hit 2004 comedy is turning 20 this year, and with a 2018 Broadway Musical by Tina Fey, it's time to bring the musical to the screen once more for the anniversary.

With a new cast taking on the iconic roles, it's time to get acquainted with the actors in the upcoming film. Don't fret, we've put together a list of the key characters and the actors portraying them in Mean Girls 2024.

Contents

New Mean Girls cast & characters

If you haven't seen any version of the Mean Girls story or characters, or if you're curious about where you've seen a certain actor, keep reading.

Cady Heron: Angourie Rice 

Here is a list of characters that play a more integral role in the plot. If you're interested in smaller, cameo-style parts - including a certain Lindsay Lohan appearance - you can find that specific list here.

Paramount Pictures

The main character of Mean Girls is Cady Heron, a teenage girl who recently moved from Kenya to attend an American high school. She quickly becomes entangled in all the social norms and drama.

Cady is played by Angourie Rice, also seen in the MCU Spider-Man movies, along with Honor Society and The Nice Guys.

Janis ‘Imi’ike: Auli’i Cravalho

Paramount Pictures

Janice becomes one of Cady’s initial companions at North Shore High due to their shared outsider status. Janice has a tumultuous past with the school’s mean girl, Regina, prompting her to enlist Cady's help in bringing her down.

You may recognize Cravalho’s voice from Disney’s Moana, and she also appears in Crush and The Little Mermaid Live.

Damian Hubbard: Jaquel Spivey 

Paramount Pictures

Damien becomes an instant confidant for Cady in high school, offering her unwavering support with his kind yet fearless demeanor. Despite being labeled as "too gay to function," only Janice is permitted to use that nickname for him.

Regina George: Reneé Rapp

Jaquel Spivey takes on the role of Damien, marking his debut on screen. Despite this, he has already established himself as a prominent figure in the world of stage acting, having garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in A Strange Loop just last year.

Paramount Pictures

The central antagonist in this film, Regina George, wields her power through intimidation, psychological manipulation, and cutting remarks, all while exuding a captivating yet formidable aura.

Regina is played by rising popstar Reneé Rapp, who actually appeared in the Broadway show, along with TV shows such as The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Gretchen Wieners: Bebe Wood

Paramount Pictures

Gretchen plays a crucial role as Regina’s closest confidante, enduring mistreatment from her friend and boss. She harbors deep insecurities, seeking validation from others to fix what she perceives as flaws. However, her intimate knowledge of everyone’s secrets reinforces her status as the ultimate insider, living up to the infamous quote, “her hair is so big because it’s full of secrets.”

Gretchen is played by Bebe Wood, who can also be spotted in Love Victor, The Real O’Neals, and The New Normal.

Karen Smith: Avantika Vandanapu

Karen may not be the brightest, but her sunny optimism is her strong suit. As a member of the plastics, she adheres to Regina’s guidelines while also expressing her unique passion for occasions like Halloween. Although, it must be noted that she once managed to include a “D” in the word orange.

Karen is played by Avantika Vandanapu, who can also be seen in Spin and Senior Year.

Aaron Samuels: Christopher Briney 

Paramount Pictures

Aaron Samuels is the boy in Cady’s calculus class that she gets a crush on. This turns messy, however, as Regina used to date Aaron herself.

Aaron is played by Christopher Briney, who can be spotted in The Summer I Turned Pretty and Dalíland.

Principal Mr Duvall: Tim Meadows

Paramount Pictures

Principal Duvall tries – and fails – to run a tight ship at North Shore High, though the drama between its students usually gets in the way.

Mr Duvall is once again played by Tim Meadows, who can also be seen in Brooklyn 99, Ladies Man, and the Grown Ups franchise.

Ms Sharon Norbury: Tina Fey

Paramount Pictures

As Cady’s AP calculus teacher, Mrs Norbury attempts to be a guiding force in the movie, though this blows up in her face at one point.

Tina Fey reprises this role, and can also be seen in 30 Rock, Only Murders in the Building, A Haunting in Venice, and Sisters.

Mrs George: Busy Philipps 

Paramount Pictures

Regina's mother, Mrs. George, is deeply involved in her daughter's life. She often tries to live vicariously through Regina and her friends, much to the detriment of their relationship.

Busy Phillips can be seen in White Chicks, Freaks and Geeks, and Girls 5eva.

Mrs Heron: Jenna Fisher 

Paramount Pictures

Cady’s mother, Mrs. Heron, is depicted as a single mother who previously worked as a researcher in Kenya. She strives to provide support for her daughter as she navigates the challenges of social turmoil.

Jenna Fisher is best known for her role in The Office, but she also appears in Blades of Glory and Hall Pass, among other comedies.

Kevin Ganatra: Mahi Alam

Paramount Pictures

Kevin is the captain of the mathletes squad that Cady becomes a part of later in the film. He also aspires to be a rapper, which leads to an awkward performance at the high school’s Winter talent show.

Mahi Alam portrays Kevin Ganatra and also stars in Disney+'s American Born Chinese.

Catch Mean Girls in US theaters on January 12, and in UK theaters on January 17. Learn more about the film here.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of the original Mean Girls movie and the subsequent Broadway musical, I am thrilled about the upcoming Mean Girls 2024 musical movie. The casting choices seem spot-on, with Angourie Rice, Auli'i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Reneé Rapp, Bebe Wood, and Avantika Vandanapu bringing fresh energy to the iconic roles. I can't wait to see how they interpret and embody these beloved characters, adding their own unique flair to the story.

The synopsis of the movie musical suggests that it will closely follow the original plot, which is exciting for fans who want to relive the classic Mean Girls experience. However, I am also intrigued by the potential for new storylines and character development. The original film left room for exploration, and I hope the musical movie takes advantage of that opportunity to deepen the characters and add new layers to their relationships.