The NYC premiere of 2024's
(Photo : KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
(L-R) Marc Weistock, President and CEO of Paramount Pictures, Brian Robbins, Reneé Rapp, Tina Fey, Lorne Michaels, Avantika Vandanapu, Lindsay Lohan, Angourie Rice, Bebe Wood and Christopher Briney arrive for the premiere of Paramount Pictures' "Mean Girls" at AMC Lincoln Square in New York on January 8, 2024.

The Tina Fey-written "Mean Girls" leads off a long list of films coming to theaters in 2024 that are either a remake, prequel or sequel. Check out our preview of it and other Hollywood film franchises returning to the big screen this year.

"Mean Girls" (Jan. 12)

This year's version of "Mean Girls" - co-directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez, Jr. - differs from its 2004 predecessor of the same name because it was adapted from a musical, making it both a remake and musical comedy. But, like previous tellings of this teen-centric story, all hell breaks loose once North Shore High School new girl Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) runs afoul of alpha mean girl Regina George (Reneé Rapp), the leader of the "Plastics" clique, for having a crush on Regina's ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney).

Out of spite, George - whom Rapp has also portrayed on Broadway - gets back with Aaron, causing Cady to become a mean girl herself as she teams up with friends Janis (Auli‛i Cravalho) and Damien (Jaquel Spivey) to destroy George's reputation. "Saturday Night Live" alums Fey - who also wrote the 2004 film - and Tim Meadows reprise their roles as Ms. Norbury and Principal Duvall, respectively.

The "Mean Girls" musical had a two-year run on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre leading up to the COVID-19 lockdown in March of 2020. The entire franchise is based on author Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 book, "Queen Bees and Wannabes."

"The First Omen" (April 5)

We live in dark times, many believe, so why not another supernatural horror film about the coming of the Antichrist? In 1976's "The Omen" and its 2006 remake, the story revolved around the birth and childhood of Damien, a spawn of Satan whose arrival signals the end times. In the upcoming prequel, "The First Omen," the story follows a young American woman named Margaret. Played by Nell Tiger Free, Margaret happens upon the conspiracy to bring about Damien's birth while working at a church in Rome.

The film was directed and co-written by Arkasha Stevenson, and it co-stars Sônia Braga (Silvia), Ralph Ineson (Father Brennan), Bill Nighy (Lawrence) and Tawfeek Barhom (Gabriel).

"Deadpool 3" (July 26)

Ryan Reynolds returns as the fourth wall-breaking, foul-mouthed mercenary and titular character in "Deadpool 3," this time for a team-up with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine to prevent different realities from converging.

Their failure could result in the complete erasure of entire realities, per the film's trailer. Reynolds is credited as one of the movie's co-writers along with its director, Shawn Levy. The movie also stars Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead) and Jennifer Garner (Elektra).

"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" (May 24)

Speaking of the apocalypse, the "Mad Max" franchise has functioned as one of the most popular cinematic interpretations of life following the collapse of civilization as we know it since 1979. Director and writer George Miller's post-apocalyptic action adventure returns via the prequel "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," starring Anya Taylor-Joy as franchise heroine Imperator Furiosa.

This film walks us through Furiosa's struggle to survive after she was ripped away from her family as a child by a horde of bikers who follow the Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth).

"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" (May 24)

Set almost 300 years after the death of ape leader Caesar - previously the main character of the current "Planet of the Apes" reboot franchise - "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" follows young chimpanzee Noa (Owen Teague), who encounters a young feral woman named Mae (Freya Allan).

The current ape leader, Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), has designs on finding human technologies for his own ends. Proximus Caesar's beliefs conflict with the teachings of the original Caesar, whose wish was for apes and humans to coexist. Noa and Mae's journey will play a significant role in determining the future of both species.

The film was directed by Wes Ball and co-written by - among others - married screenwriting duo Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.