Final ‘Mean Girls’ Trailer Introduces Original Music, But Still Skates Around Musical Premise

Having Renée Rapp revive her role as Regina George for the film adaptation of Mean Girls: The Musical was really a genius move from producers Lorne Michaels and Tina Fey. Obviously, her stint in the show on Broadway made her intricately familiar with the character. But Rapp’s newly solidified presence in the pop music arena also made her the perfect trojan horse for the movie, out Jan. 12 — which still doesn’t have a single trailer make clear that it’s actually a full-fledged musical.

Rapp’s voice rings out at the start of the final Mean Girls trailer, ominously announcing: “My name is Regina George. I don’t care who you are.” The rest of the clip, which further introduces the cast of newcomers and veterans alike, is overlayed with “Not My Fault,” the soundtrack single from Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion. The trailer does preview a few dance scenes but mainly lingers on the musical within the musical: the iconic “Jingle Bell Rock” scene at the winter talent show.

More from Rolling Stone

• Reneé Rapp Taps Megan Thee Stallion for 'Mean Girls' Single 'Not My Fault'

• Megan Thee Stallion and Reneé Rapp Are the Queens of the Plastics in 'Mean Girls' Single Artwork

• 'SNL' Host Emma Stone Makes History and Dings Woody Harrelson's Covid Stance

The musical element is the primary difference between this version of Mean Girls and the original 2004 film. Without a clear distinction, many are left wondering what the goal is in tampering with a certified pop culture classic. But the decision to lure audiences into theaters with a trail of crumbs, rather than the promise of a song-filled feast, is becoming common practice for studio executives.

Last month, when Wonka — the musical starring Timothée Chalamet — opened in theaters, Deadline reported that studios have refrained from marketing musicals at face value because “test-audience focus groups generally hate musicals and the only way to get people into the theater with one is to trick [them].”

Good luck to the poor musical hater who will inevitably settle into the theater for Mean Girls in a few days’ time, only to experience the jump scare of a lifetime. Maybe they can form a support group with misguided Wonka attendees. They can even get matching jackets that read “I Hate Having Fun” across the back.

Best of Rolling Stone

• 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century

• Risky Business: Every Tom Cruise Film, Ranked – Updated

• 70 Greatest Music Documentaries of All Time