It's been two decades since Tina Fey's adaptation of the self-help book Queen Bees and Wannabes hit theaters on April 30, 2004, forever changing the way we talk about high school cliques. To celebrate, we're diving into the untold stories behind the iconic comedy.
Did you know Lindsay Lohan originally wanted to play Regina George? While filming Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, director Mark Waters asked Lohan to join Mean Girls, and she was keen on playing the queen bee. "I wanted to play Regina. I had just played—in Confessions and Freaky—not the cool girl in school," she recalled. But Paramount's Sherry Lansing insisted Lohan take the lead role of Cady Heron, fearing the movie wouldn't work otherwise.
Amanda Seyfried almost ruled as Regina too. She auditioned for the part before being cast as the dim-witted Karen Smith. And Lacey Chabert, who played Gretchen Wieners, brought her own flair to the role, though she jokes that her character's famous "That's so fetch!" line still confuses people.
The film's legacy extends beyond its cast. Its quotable lines—"She doesn't even go here!" and "You go, Glen Coco!"—have become part of pop culture. And the 2024 musical remake, starring Reneé Rapp and Angourie Rice, proves the story's staying power.
So grab your pink tank top and burn book, because these secrets are totally fetch.