Paramount Pictures has reportedly paid Lindsay Lohan a significant sum, approximately $500,000, for her brief appearance in the latest iteration of “Mean Girls.” The film, which marks a musical adaptation of the 2004 cult classic, features Lohan reprising her iconic role as Cady Heron for a pivotal scene.
Lohan, who skyrocketed to fame with her role in the original “Mean Girls,” took part in half a day’s worth of shooting for the musical, which boasts a new ensemble cast led by Angourie Rice and Reneé Rapp. Paramount has chosen not to comment on the financial arrangement, and a representative for Lohan has declined to provide any statement on the matter.
The surprise cameo by Lohan during the film’s New York premiere on Jan. 8 was met with enthusiastic applause. In her scene, Lohan returns to the math competition, a significant setting in the original film, offering a full-circle moment for fans of the “Mean Girls” franchise. The actor even flew in from Dubai to grace the red carpet for the event.
Paramount, like other studios, has been capitalizing on the nostalgia factor, enticing original cast members to make brief but impactful appearances in recent productions. Notable examples include Val Kilmer’s emotional return in “Top Gun: Maverick” and similar nods in films like “Baywatch.”
Despite not playing a flashback or an older version of her character, Lohan’s scene serves as a clever link between the past and present of the “Mean Girls” storyline. The musical, directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., has already proven successful at the box office, securing the top spot over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend with a $33.2 million domestic haul.
Originally intended for a streaming-only release on Paramount+, the $36 million film’s strategy shifted after positive test screenings revealed a substantial demand for a theatrical experience. Exit polls indicate that the film appeals to both the Gen Z demographic and those over 35, with the latter demographic likely buoyed by Lohan’s discreetly kept cameo until the film’s debut.
The narrative of the new “Mean Girls” centers around Cady Heron (Rice), navigating the high school social hierarchy ruled by Regina George (Rapp), who takes over the role from Rachel McAdams. Avantika Vandanapu and Bebe Wood complete the film’s central quartet, while Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles as a weary math teacher and a hapless principal, respectively.
Having taken a hiatus from studio films for over a decade, Lohan made a comeback with the Netflix rom-com “Falling for Christmas” in 2022. Her upcoming project, Netflix’s “Irish Wish,” is set to premiere on March 15.
