Mean Girls' Jaquel Spivy Embraces Daniel Franzese: Discover the Strong Bond Among the 2004 Cast in Support of the Remake
Mean Girls' Jaquel Spivey and original cast member Daniel Franzese share an emotional hug at the NYC movie premiere, showcasing their strong bond and support for the remake A heartwarming reunion that speaks volumes about the enduring friendship within the Mean Girls family
Jaquel Spivey and Daniel Franzese. John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
The original Mean Girls cast from 2004 showed their support for the 2024 actors who are now taking on their iconic roles. Jaquel Spivey, who portrays Damian Leigh in the Broadway musical adaptation of Mean Girls, was spotted embracing the original actor, Daniel Franzese, at the New York City movie premiere on January 8. The two warmly embraced each other, with Spivey, 25, appearing to show admiration for Franzese, 45. They also posed together on the red carpet, sharing a friendly and supportive moment.
The NYC premiere saw the return of more of the original cast, such as Lindsay Lohan and Rajiv Surendra. Both Lohan, 37, and Surendra, 34, joined Mean Girls writer Tina Fey on the pink carpet for the remake. Tim Meadows, who played Principal Duvall in the original Mean Girls and the direct-to-video sequel Mean Girls 2, also reprised his role for the 2024 musical.
MEAN GIRLS (2024) Paramount Pictures
At the soirée, Lohan, who played Cady Heron, expressed her excitement for the remake, calling the original film an amazing experience and stating that she can't wait to see the new version. Meanwhile, Surendra, who starred as Kevin Gnapoor in the 2004 film, praised the movie on Instagram, expressing his honor to be part of the premiere and congratulating the new cast for their fantastic job.
Despite not attending the premiere, original Janice Ian actress Lizzy Caplan showed her support for Auli’i Cravalho, who took over her role. Cravalho, 23, revealed that she received a touching gesture from Caplan and Broadway star Barrett Wilbert Weed, 35.
MEAN GIRLS (2004) Cover Images
"They said, 'Congratulations on being the 3rd generation of Janis and we'll meet up, have a drink, and plan the next best revenge,' which she described as "the most incredible thing." In 2023, members of the 2004 cast reunited to film a Walmart Black Friday ad, where fans saw Lohan, Surendra, Franzese, Chabert, and Seyfried reprising their Mean Girls characters."
At the time, eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the absence of Rachel McAdams, who portrayed Regina George, in the ad. She later admitted that she "didn't know" the other members of the Plastics would be involved when she declined the opportunity.
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"I wasn't really excited about doing a commercial, to be honest," she told Variety in December 2023. "I've never done them before, and it just didn't feel like something I'd be into. I didn't realize that everyone was doing it. I'd always love to be part of a Mean Girls reunion and hang out with my Plastics, but I found out about the commercial later on."
In contrast, she has conveyed her excitement for Reneé Rapp, the actress portraying Regina George in the musical adaptation. "I have no doubts about her," she stated to Entertainment Tonight recently. "She is exceptional. She surpasses me with her voice. I'm just looking forward to seeing her interpretation. The character is fantastic and a blast to portray. I hope she enjoys it. I'm eager to witness it."
