"Mean Girls" Trailer Reaction: Is Christopher Briney qualified to play Aaron Samuels?

Jan. 12 is the new Oct. 3rd

Trailers have been all over the place promoting the new “Mean Girls” musical movie that is scheduled to hit theaters on Jan. 12, 2024, only 20 years after the original.

Renee Rapp is of course reprising her role as Regina George on Broadway, and Tina Fey as Ms. Norbury.

While it would be iconic to see the OG plastics reprise their roles, obviously for a musical the actors need to be able to sing. Along with that, Rachel McAdams could pass as 17 at 26, but probably can no longer pass at 46.

It is with this knowledge that fans question and squint their eyes at the choice to cast Christopher Briney as the OG white male icon, Aaron Samuels.

First off, Aaron Samuels in the original films was played by Jonathan Bennett. He is a good enough-looking guy, but the character of Samuels is very give and take. In some aspects, he is a great guy, but it is hard to get past the two-timing side of him.

In that regard, maybe Briney is the perfect candidate to play this character as he has played a questionable man in the past.

In “The Summer I Turned Pretty," Briney plays Conrad Fisher. A young man who is confused and misunderstood, to say the least. Does he cheat on his girlfriend in that show? No, but he has toxic tendencies similar to those of Aaron Samuels.

However, in season two of the show after his mother dies Briney as Fisher performs a song, and not very well. This performance was dragged on social media and left audiences with confusion about the actual capacity of Briney’s musical ability.

Fans of his past work and of “Mean Girls” 2004, are excited to see what Briney brings to the table in this new rendition and role.

The most recent trailer depicts a nostalgic and familiar feel to the 2004 “Mean Girls”. However, they did not include any taste of the musical numbers being included. Broadway fans will have to wait to be in the theater to hear the tunes.

This film is going to be iconic no matter what, but the end of the trailer features a snippet of one of the most incredible songs to ever bless the planet, “get him back!” by Olivia Rodrigo.

Nothing makes a film more desirable than featuring a Rodrigo song. Come on, there might as well already be butts in the seats.

This film will either exceed all expectations or be a glorified garbage fire, only time will tell. That time is Jan. 12, 2024.

Savannah Swartz is a third-year majoring in communications. To contact her, email sms9072@psu.edu.