Gifted all the power that comes with having a No. 1 song, Ariana Grande has decided to insert herself into all of her favorite movies — which, if you are an Ariana Grande fan, are also probably all of your favorite movies. After paying homage to The First Wives Club on Ellen, Grande has teased that her “Thank U, Next†video will re-create Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, 13 Going on 30, and Bring It On. In other words, every 1990s or early 2000s comedy or romantic comedy with a breakup or ex as a plot point.
Mean Girls
Ari has released a teaser for the video on her Instagram, specifically parodying the “Who is Regina George†scene in Mean Girls. Cameos include Jonathan Bennett reprising his role as Aaron Samuels, Troye Sivan, YouTuber/Ari look-alike Gabi DeMartino, very pregnant YouTuber Colleen Ballinger, and Stefanie Drummond reprising her role as person way too into Ariana/Regina. Additionally, there’s her former Victorious (and 13 the musical) co-star Elizabeth Gillies looking like an absolute dead ringer for Lindsay Lohan’s character, Cady Heron. Grool!
Legally Blonde
First off, she’s recruited Jennifer Coolidge. This is just wonderful because (a) we already know that Ariana Grande does a great Jennifer Coolidge and like to imagine them both doing the same voice together, and (b) Ariana Grande should cover “So Much Better†from the musical (this is a request from me, specifically; I just think it would be great).
Additionally, because Grande is the rare person that all Americans (humans?) can rally behind, Reese Witherspoon has responded to her forthcoming video with the most Elle Woods blessing possible.
Bring It On
Grande, the giver of gifts and blesser of timelines and wearer of the one ponytail to rule them all, has announced the fourth film. For this one, she’s gone all the way to Rancho Carne High in San Diego, dug a Toros cheer costume out of mothballs, and fixed herself up for a potential rumble. In other words, she’s paying tribute to Bring It On.
13 Going on 30
But Grande’s not just going Blonde, she has daringly gone sans ponytail for her re-creation of 13 Going on 30, playing “big time magazine editor†Jennifer Garner, a.k.a. literal big kid Jenna Rink.
Update, November 29: Ari has now shared the behind the scenes of the video ahead of its release tomorrow. Spot her in all her Elle Woods, Regina George, Torrance Shipman, and Jenna Rink lewks.
This post has been updated throughout.