Upcoming Release: 'Smile 2' slated for 2024, 'Mean Girls' Film Moves from Streaming to Cinemas

By M Muzamil Shami

       Paramount Pictures, courtesy of Everett Collection, licensed by Getty Images

Paramount has unveiled plans for a sequel to the highly successful horror flick "Smile," along with a significant change in platform strategy for the forthcoming "Mean Girls" musical adaptation.

Originally slated for release on Paramount+, "Mean Girls," based on the Tony-nominated Broadway production derived from the beloved 2004 cinematic gem (which grossed a staggering $130 million), will now receive a widespread theatrical premiere on January 12, 2024. Meanwhile, "Bob Marley: One Love," starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the revered late reggae icon, has been rescheduled for a wide release on February 14, 2024, taking the slot initially assigned to "Mean Girls."

The fresh "Mean Girls" installment boasts a cast featuring Reneé Rapp, Angourie Rice, Jaquel Spivey, and Auli’i Cravalho. Rapp reprises her role as Regina George, having previously portrayed the character in the Broadway musical. Rice, Spivey, and Cravalho will take on the roles of Cady, Damian, and Janis, respectively. Noteworthy returnees from the original film include Tina Fey and Tim Meadows, alongside new additions such as Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Avantika, Mahi Alam, Christopher Briney, Bebe Wood, Ashley Park, Connor Ratliff, and Jon Hamm. Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne helm the project, working from a screenplay by Fey, who also penned the original film and stage adaptation. The music is composed by Jeff Richmond, with lyrics penned by Nell Benjamin.

The schedule adjustment mirrors last year's move when the studio shifted "Smile" from a Paramount+ launch to a theatrical release, yielding a tremendous box office success of $217 million. Paramount has now confirmed the release date for the sequel to "Smile" on Oct. 18, 2024.

As for "The Tiger's Apprentice," originally slated for Jan. 19, 2024, it has been officially withdrawn from the theatrical release lineup and will instead have an exclusive premiere on Paramount+.