The new Mean Girls has been released in theaters and has topped the domestic box office and is performing well with critics; however, viewers may not have realized that the latest adaptation of this story is actually a musical that was adapted from the Broadway rendition of the original film. The newest Mean Girls was not marketed as a musical by Paramount and Marc Weinstock, Paramount’s president of global marketing, has recently explained why.
Weinstock explained to Variety that the marketing made sure to avoid leaning into the film’s musical aspect because audiences aren’t always open to musicals: “We didn’t want to run out and say it’s a musical because people tend to treat musicals differently…This movie is a broad comedy with music. Yes, it could be considered a musical, but it appeals to a larger audience. You can see in [trailers for] Wonka and The Color Purple, they don’t say musical either. We have a musical note on the title, so there are hints to it without being overbearing.”
The film’s premiere took place on a Monday instead of a self-referential Wednesday premiere (“on Wednesdays We Wear Pink”), which Weinstock had an explanation for as well: “That was due to talent availability…It’s a boring answer.”
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