The ‘Mean Girls’ Reunite for Walmart’s Black Friday Deals

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes. We stand with the SAG-AFTRA. Without them, the movies and television shows we cover would not exist.

To remix Nicole Kidman’s famous words about AMC Theaters, capitalism feels good in a place like a Mean Girls x Walmart ad – released on a Wednesday, no less. Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, and more stars from the 2004 cult classic teen comedy reunited to reprise their roles in a “fetch” commercial promoting Walmart’s Black Friday deals, with a tag that promises more to come.

The Toaster Strudel tag pairs nicely with Gretchen Weiner’s license plate, putting the character in “The Shopping State” with the number “STRUDLGIRL” and the catchphrase at the bottom reading, “carpe fetchus diem.” That tag teases another surprise next Wednesday. Variety reports that new iterations of the Mean Girls x Walmart campaign will surface “every subsequent Wednesday during the month. Each week, a different member of the cast will appear in an ad and a social post.”

This one, aptly titled “Jingle Bell Rockin’,” starts with Lohan’s voiceover as Cady Heron says, “At North Shore, some things never change. On Wednesdays, we still wear pink.” The Walmart ad features a new version of the film’s “Plastics” girl group, introducing Gretchen’s daughter. The latter picks up the former from school, disproving Cady’s point – some things do change.

Regina George’s iconic line, “Get in, loser. We’re going shopping,” evolved into “Get in, sweetie. We’re going deal shopping,” as Gretchen herself evolves into the “Cool Mom” role portrayed by Amy Poehler in Mean Girls. Gretchen even stands in the aisle at the Winter Talent Show, just like Mrs. George.

Additionally, Daniel Franzese reprises the role of Damian Leigh, who appears to work at North Shore with Cady, the school’s guidance counselor. Meanwhile, Rajiv Surendra returns as the mathlete, Kevin Ginapoor, who now has a son named “Kevin Jr.” The father-son duo watch the news from the comfort of their home, dawned with Walmart deals. The news segment spotlights Seyfried as Karen Smith.

Karen is still reporting the weather in a perfectly in-character way, saying, “There’s a 30% chance it’s already Wednesday,” before catching a ball in a way only Karen Smith can. The ad calls back to Mean Girls in other ways, too, like the Walmart deals spreading through North Shore, like the copied pages of the Burn Book or the students talking about Walmart deals like Regina’s popularity. One says, “I saw Miss Heron buy Apple Airpods and Legos, so I bought Apple Airpods and Legos.”

However, don’t think you’re missing key cast members in all the details. Rachel McAdams is noticeably absent with Tina Fey’s Ms. Norbury, Tim Meadows’ Mrs. Duvall, Lizzy Caplan’s Janis Ian, and Jonathan Bennett’s Aaron Samuels. The Walmart ad does bring in a new player in Missy Elliot as North Shore’s new gym/sex ed/Walmart deals teacher. So, move over, Coach Carr!

With Walmart teeing up even more from this collaboration, perhaps there’s still a chance to see more Mean Girls cast members in its future. After all, the cast speaks highly of reuniting for this venture. “It was so nice being back together after all these years. It was great catching up with everyone,” Lohan said, per Variety. “It was wonderful to spend the day with Amanda and Lindsay. It was so much fun to reminisce and be together again after all these years,” Chabert added.

“We think fans are going to be super excited to see us after all these years. I know we are excited for everyone to see what we’ve all been up to,” Franzese said. Of course, this Walmart ad isn’t the only recent development in the Mean Girls Universe. Mean Girls, the movie based on the Broadway musical penned by Fey, is coming to theaters on January 12, 2024. The theatrical release is a change from its previously announced streaming one, exclusively reported by Deadline.

2011’s Mean Girls 2 is the first sequel from the franchise, but only Meadows reprised his role as Mr. Duvall. Fans have been impatiently awaiting news that perhaps Lohan, Seyfried, McAdams, and Chabert could return for the musical movie. Page Six reported in February 2023 that they “all agreed to return for the new Mean Girls movie – but talks have stalled over Paramount’s “disrespectful” money offer.”

Seyfried told Entertainment Tonight in February, “It’s been a long legacy for Mean Girls, and I think we all kinda just need to hang.” The actress added that although nothing about a possible role in the new film has been confirmed, she’s “still hoping for a miracle.” “It’s not really up to us, is it? All four of us are 100% into it,” Seyfried added. In April, McAdams spoke to Bustle about possibly reprising her role as Regina George in the new movie. “I don’t see a way to shoehorn us in,” McAdams said. “If Tina can figure it out, I’m there for sure,” McAdams added.

Plenty is up in the air about the original cast reprising their roles or appearing in some way in 2024’s Mean Girls. Page Six’s report serves as an evergreen reminder during SAG-AFTRA’s ongoing strike against the AMPTP (the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) for a fair deal that actors deserve fair and livable wages. While fans may have to wait until next year to see if Lohan, Seyfried, McAdams, and Chabert appear on the big screen, Walmart’s ad campaign will undoubtedly make Wednesdays pink and “fetch.”