Mean Girls 2024 Cast on Diversity and Identity in New Film

The very first shot of the 2024 musical reimagining of “Imply Women” is a vertical body. Two characters, Janis (performed by Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), movie themselves singing a tune that units the stage for the story to observe. They’re troubadours for the TikTok set — and it is a “Imply Women” for a brand new era.

The Cady Heron, Regina George, and Aaron Samuels of the unique movie, launched in 2004, had by no means seen an iPhone — these would not debut for one more three years. “Instagram,” “Twitter,” and “Snapchat” would have gave the impression of gibberish. Karen was only a identify, and Donald Trump was only a enterprise mogul.

Twenty years later . . . effectively, issues are totally different. We have seen not only a technological revolution, however a cultural one. Extra Individuals have grow to be extra conscious of how rampant racism and discrimination — from microaggressions to hate crimes — are on this nation. And, whereas we nonetheless have an extended technique to go, individuals have a higher understanding of the hurt brought on by failing to adequately symbolize a range of identities on display screen.

In 2004, the unique movie did make jokes about racial stereotypes (“For those who’re from Africa, why are you white?”), nevertheless it did not go as far as to forged an individual of shade in any of the principle roles. (Truly, that was a joke within the authentic film, too: Kevin G asks Janis if she’s Puerto Rican. “Lebanese,” solutions Janis, performed by Lizzy Caplan, who’s white.)

The brand new “Imply Women” forged is notably extra various than the unique, and the forged tells POPSUGAR that they are grateful for the power to deliver their characters into 2024 by integrating extra of their particular person identities.

“I acquired to deliver a bit little bit of myself to the character,” says Bebe Wooden, who performs Gretchen Wieners. “I used to be speaking with [director Arturo Perez Jr.] and he was like, ‘Wait, I heard someplace that you just’re Latina . . . We must always simply add one thing in there.'”

The addition to the script was small — a single point out of her abuelito — however for Wooden, the influence was enormous. “I’ve by no means been in a position to play Cuban American earlier than,” she says. “So it was thrilling so as to add just a bit nod to my heritage inside the position.”

Avantika, who performs Karen Shetty within the new movie, was equally grateful to have the ability to embrace her background on display screen. “It actually meant quite a bit when . . . on the preliminary desk learn, [screenwriter Tina Fey] was like, ‘Is there something concerning the identify like Karen Smith that you just wish to change?'” Avantika says. “And I used to be like, ‘I am South Indian, I’ve by no means gotten to play somebody who’s brazenly South Indian, and I converse Telugu at residence; would it not be potential to usher in the final identify from my tradition?’ . . . And so we selected Karen Shetty. That is actually particular to me that [Fey] gave me the area and freedom to deliver that.”

Karen is not the one character to get a brand new identify: Janis Ian is now Janis ‘Imi’ike, reflective of Cravalho’s Hawaiian heritage. Cravalho desires to get to a spot the place range in movie is the rule, reasonably than the exception. “Each movie that I am in, I get requested about: ‘Why is illustration vital in movies?'” she says. “Thanks for asking me that query — however can we transfer on a bit bit? An area that I am making an attempt to maneuver out of is being requested at all times about, ‘How vital is it to you to be the primary pioneer?’ I am excited to open the doorways and simply break by. [But] I do not wish to be the primary.”

This name-claiming is very significant in a movie the place name-calling and misnaming trigger a lot hurt. The Plastics, “fugly slut,” “dyke” (within the new model, up to date to “pyro lez”): they’re all names and labels doled out like candy-cane grams, and the scholars of North Shore Excessive really feel the burn.

Spivey says that he tries to disregard labels that different individuals stick on him; they don’t seem to be the reality, he says. “Even within the movie, Regina calls Karen silly, so due to this fact Karen looks like she’s silly. However I’ve a robust feeling if Karen did not hear, she would not really feel silly. You recognize what I imply?” Spivey tells POPSUGAR. “So for me, I believe lots of people will be like, ‘Oh yeah, you are a plus-size queer actor.’ I’m, however I am additionally simply an actor. So perhaps you do not label me and I will not label myself and I can simply be no matter I need.”

This sentiment is echoed by this era’s Regina George, Reneé Rapp. Rapp is brazenly bisexual (and has hinted in prior interviews and on social media that her Regina won’t be as straight because the character’s relationships with Aaron Samuels and Shane Oman would possibly point out). However she additionally makes clear that solely she has the appropriate to touch upon her sexuality.

“I’ve come out a whole lot of totally different occasions in my life and with a few various things, and it just lately has modified quite a bit for me,” says Rapp, maybe referring to her portrayal of Leighton Murray, a school freshman who comes out as a lesbian on “The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women.” “However I can’t inform you what number of occasions I’ve acquired feedback within the final month or two which can be identical to, ‘Oh, congrats on [coming out] once more,'” she says, her tone altering to the vocal equal of a watch roll. “And I used to be like, bro, really fuck you. You suck.”

There’s energy in claiming and coming into your identification. And the individuals who attempt to put you in a field or use your individuality to harm you? Rapp is correct: they suck.

Angourie Rice says she’s studying to let go of the opinions and expectations others have of her — not in contrast to her character, Cady Heron. “Once I was 17, I had a very nice 12 months when it comes to work and publicity, and it was my last 12 months of highschool and I graduated. And that felt like a very profitable 12 months for me. I believe if you’re a youngster working within the trade and also you get success at a selected level in your life, there’s perhaps a strain to form of keep at that time in your life,” she says. “[You think], ‘Oh, that is after I acquired probably the most validation, due to this fact I needs to be like that at all times.'”

However Rice is seeking to develop and sees how counting on exterior affirmation for her sense of self-worth could possibly be holding her again. “For me, [I’m working on] releasing that fixed want for validation as a result of I acquired it a lot at this specific level in my life,” she says. “I am not 17 anymore.”

Getting into the position of final teen heartthrob Aaron Samuels got here with related pressures for Christopher Briney. However in taking part in Aaron, “I simply tried to be Chris,” he says. “I actually wished to interrupt freed from expectations of what I believed individuals wished to see after they see Aaron Samuels.”

It takes a particular form of atmosphere to have the ability to foster a lot freedom and vulnerability within the actors’ performances — and the forged says they felt supported by each other instantly.

“The friendships got here simple. It was really easy, so enjoyable to work with these individuals. I cherished it a lot,” Rice reminisces. “I believe additionally we had been all so dedicated to creating the film the perfect it may presumably be, and I discovered quite a bit from each Jaquel and Auli’i. Auli’i stands up for herself a lot. Jaquel is likely one of the funniest performers I do know. And so simply being in a room with these two individuals and studying a lot from how they work and who they’re was a deal with.”

Spivey agrees. In spite of everything, he says, Fey set the tone from day one which the entire movie is about highschool — that you must have enjoyable for it to essentially translate. As he places it, “It is an actor’s dream to have the ability to step into an area and really feel snug sufficient to play — and to play as a lot as you possibly can and uncover.”