Tina Fey's Insider Secrets: Unveiling Lindsay Lohan's Iconic Cameo in the 'Mean Girls' Movie Musical
Tina Fey spills the beans on her secret strategy to secure Lindsay Lohan's cameo in the highly anticipated 2024 'Mean Girls' movie musical Discover the behind-the-scenes deal that made this iconic reunion possible!
John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Tina Fey knew how fetch it would be if someone special made an appearance in the new Mean Girls movie musical.
Warning: Spoilers are ahead for the 2024 Mean Girls movie.
Tina Fey, 53, revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly on Friday, January 12, that Paramount had inquired about the possibility of bringing back the original cast for the movie. Fey explained, "I felt like if I could only get one person as a surprise, the original movie is really Lindsay [Lohan's] movie. As great as they all are, she's the heart of that movie."
Fey, who penned both the original and updated versions of the film, revealed that she was also given the task of finding a seamless way for Lohan, 37, to join the story. "I thought, 'Well, what could she do?'" she shared. "I didn't think [she should] play a teacher. I was trying to think of something that you wouldn't expect."
She eventually found a way to include the original character Cady Heron in a manner that would be meaningful for fans. Lohan makes an appearance in the movie's third act as a moderator during the Mathletes competition, alongside the new Cady, portrayed by Angourie Rice.
“Having her do that late in the movie also feels like it comes, hopefully, at a time when fans weren't expecting another little surprise,” Fey said. "It also showcases her intelligence, which is a defining trait of Cady's character."
Lohan may not be able to reprise her role as Cady, but her appearance in the 2024 film allows her to be present for one of the character's most iconic lines: "The limit does not exist."
Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan. Cover Images
During the scene, Lohan challenges the mathletes with difficult questions while Fey, reprising her role as Ms. Norbury, watches proudly. The film then breaks the fourth wall slightly, as Lohan mentions that the competition has only ended in a tie “once before,” a nod to the same scene from the 2004 film. When Cady (Rice) asks why she didn’t pay more attention in limits class, Lohan replies cheekily, “Honey, I don’t know your life.”
“I was so nervous to meet her. I was sick to my stomach,” Rice, 23, told EW about her and Lohan’s crossover moment. “But it was so exciting because I love her performance in Mean Girls. I think she brings such honesty to her performances and it’s just so special. And so, to meet her was crazy.”
Rice's concerns turned out to be unnecessary, as she revealed that the two instantly connected over playing the same character. "One of the first things she said to me was, 'I feel like I know you because I played the same character,' and that meant a lot to me," Rice said. "It felt so special because it's really rare to play the same character as someone and get to meet them. It's something I've never experienced before."
The new iteration of the teen comedy classic was initially approved in 2020, as an adaptation of the Mean Girls Broadway musical, which was also penned by Fey and debuted on stage in 2018. Alongside Rice as Cady, Renée Rapp — who also appeared in the stage version – plays Regina George, while Avantika Vandanapu and Bebe Wood join as Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith, respectively. Christopher Briney takes on the role of Aaron Samuels, Auli'i Cravalho is Janis 'Imi'ike (formerly Ian), and Jaquel Spivey portrays Damian Hubbard.
The original trio of The Plastics, Lindsay Lohan, Lacey Chabert, and Amanda Seyfried, came together for a Mean Girls-themed commercial at Walmart in December 2023, bringing back their iconic characters. Lohan even surprised fans with a red carpet appearance at the recent Mean Girls premiere in New York City.
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When walking the red carpet, she expressed her gratitude for the original film, saying, "I feel really grateful. It’s not very often that you have all these movies that do that. Mean Girls really opened the doors for a lot of things going on in schools. I think it’s also a really fun movie, so it’s really a blessing."
Mean Girls is now playing in theaters.
