Mean Girls (franchise)

Mean Girls is an American teen comedy franchise owned by Paramount Pictures that consists of one theatrical film, an upcoming direct-to-video sequel, an upcoming theatrical spin-off, and two video games. The first film in the series, Mean Girls, was written by comedian actress Tina Fey and was based on Rosalind Wiseman's book, Queen Bees and Wannabes. The film stars Fey, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and features a number of Saturday Night Live alumni. The film, released in 2004, received positive reviews from film critics and was a success at the box office, grossing $129,042,871 worldwide.

In late 2008, it was announced that a direct-to-video sequel to the film would be released. These plans were later scrapped, but in 2010, it was revealed that filming for the sequel would begin in July 2010. It was also announced that Adam Shankman would be directing a spin-off to the film, titled Mean Moms, which is set for a theatrical release in 2012. The film will be based on Rosalind Wiseman's other book, Queen Bee Moms and King Pin Dads.

Development
Rosalind Wiseman, a parenting educator, published her book, Queen Bees and Wannabes, in 2002, after spending over a decade talking to teenagers (girls, in particular) about the social issues that they encounter in school. The book is a self-help book for parents that focuses on girls as they struggle with boyfriends, cliques, etc. The book was later a New York Times Best-Seller. Tina Fey, a cast member of Saturday Night Live, read the book and approached producer Lorne Michaels on possibly making an adaption of the film. When Michaels agreed, the set off to ask Wiseman to give over the rights to the book. "I said, 'You know, I would like to try to make your book into a movie.' She was reluctant at first because she said she basically wanted me to promise her that I wouldn't take her book and make it into a cheap, dumb, dirty movie; Make fun of it or sell it out. So I promised her that I would try and do a good job," says Fey.

Freaky Friday star Lindsay Lohan was the first cast member to read the script. She approached Fey during one of the episodes of Saturday Night Live and had said that she really enjoyed the script. Mark Waters, who had directed Lohan's Freaky Friday, asked Fey to consider Lohan for a role in the film. Although she had originally auditioned for the role of 'mean girl' Regina, she was cast as Cady Heron due to having a young fan base. "She's near about perfect in that I always sort of had this vision of Cady that she had to be this girl that was really beautiful, but kind of didn't know it. And Lindsay's beauty is she's so naturally beautiful that, in that way, she fit it perfectly. And she has a real vulnerability in the movie, but she also seems resilient and strong because, on one hand, you don't want a girl that seemed too fragile, or you'd be worried about her the whole time," says Fey. The Hot Chick star, Rachel McAdams, was cast as Regina George, a role that Amanda Seyfried has auditioned for. Lorne Michaels later decided that Seyfried should be cast as 'dumb girl' Karen Smith. The film features familiar Saturday Night Live faces such as Amy Poehler, Ana Gasteyer, and Tim Meadows, starring as Mrs. George, Cady's Mom, and the principal, Mr. Duvall. Also starring is Lizzy Caplan as the artistic outsider, Janis Ian, and Daniel Franzese as Janis' friend, Damien, who is 'too gay to function.'

After getting the rights to the book from Wiseman, production on the film began on September 27, 2003 and ended on November 21. The film opened in theaters at #1 at the box office on April 30, 2004. On opening weekend, the film grossed $24,432,195 and received positive reviews from critics. Worldwide, the film has grossed $129,042,871. A direct-to-video sequel, Mean Girls 2, will begin production in July 2010 and is expected to be released in 2011. A spin-off from the film, Mean Moms, is expected to be released in 2012. Production will most likely begin in 2011.

Mean Girls
Cady Heron, a home-schooled girl living in Africa with her zoologist parents, moves to Illinois and begins attending high school for the first time. After making friends with 'the art freaks', Cady pretends to be friends with the so-called 'Plastics', the most popular girls in school. Cady and her friends, Janis and Damien, try to sabotage the Plastics once Regina, the leader, begins dating, Aaron Samuels, the boy that Cady likes. On the way to 'destroying' Regina's social life, Cady begins to become one of the Plastics herself and later alienates her true friends. During the finale of the film, Cady apologizes for her antics and realizes who her true friends are.

Mean Girls 2
In late 2008, it was announced that Paramount Pictures were developing a direct-to-video sequel, planned for release in 2009. Leslie Dixon and Gail Parent were approached to write a screenplay for the film, having previously written two other Lindsay Lohan films (Freaky Friday and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen). Mark Waters was expected to return as the director. The idea of a sequel was scrapped in 2009.

In June 2010, it was announced that Melanie Mayron would direct the sequel, after the idea had been picked up again. Filming will begin in July 2010 in the Atlanta, Georgia area. The story revolves around a new high school student, Jo, who agrees to befriend an outcast, Abby, at the urging of Abby's wealthy father in exchange for paying all of Jo's costs for the college of her dreams. Jo and Abby team up to take on the school's mean girls, the Plastics. The story becomes a high stakes battle of loyalty that ultimately comes to a head when one of our heroines finds out that her friendship has been bought and paid for.

Meaghan Jette Martin announced via Facebook that she would not be able to go on tour with the rest of the cast from Camp Rock because she had won the role of Jo in the film. It was also announced that Cory in the House's Maiara Walsh would star in the film, possibly as Abby.

Mean Moms
In May 2010, it was announced that producer Adam Shankman would be producing a "qausi-sequel/spin-off" to the original film, titled Mean Moms. The film will be based on Rosalind Wiseman's second self-help book, Queen Bee Moms and King Pin Dads. Unlike the two previous films, Mean Moms will be headed under New Line Cinema. The film is expected to begin production in 2011 and will be released in theaters in 2012. The story revolves around on a happily married mother-of-two who moves from small-town America to the high-class suburbs and is faced with confronting the cutthroat world of competitive parenting.

Video games
Two video games based on the original film have been released. A video game for PC, titled Mean Girls: High School Showdown, was released on March 26, 2009. A video game for Nintendo DS, titled Mean Girls DS, was released on April 20, 2010.