Tina Fey Announces MEAN GIRLS Musical Deal is Close to Being Finalized

MEAN GIRLS on Broadway? How Gruel! During an interview with E! News on the red carpet of tonight's Screen Actor's Guild Awards, Tina Fey announced some big, breaking news to host Giuliana Rancic: she is nearing a deal with Paramount Pictures to develop a musical based upon her hit movie, MEAN GIRLS.

"Before I let you go, 'Mean Girls The Musical?' Is that real?", questioned Rancic.

"I would love to," replied Fey. "I'm trying to develop it actually with my husband who does all the music for '30 Rock.' I think Paramount's on board. Yeah."

When Rancic compared cat-fighting American Idol judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj to characters in the film, Fey joked, "Maybe she [Mariah Carey] can play Amy Poehler's part in the musical!"

Fey has frequently discussed the potential project in recent years, but tonight, she seemed to imply that it was very close to happening, and from her level of excitement, it appears the talks were held semi-recently.

MEAN GIRLS was released in 2004, written by Fey, and directed by Mark Waters. The film follows the new girl in town, Cady Heron, and her attempt to navigate the cliques of high school, including 'The Plastics,' led by Regina George. The film starred Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried (in her film debut), and featured Fey. The film was a box office success, grossing $129,042,871 worldwide.

Fey is executive producer, head writer and star of NBC's three-time (2007, 2008, 2009) Emmy Award-winning, one-of-a-kind comedy series "30 Rock," a workplace comedy where the workplace exists behind-the-scenes of a live variety show. Her performance as 'Liz Lemon' has earned Fey an Emmy, two Golden Globes, three SAG Awards and a People's Choice Award. In 2009, "30 Rock" was nominated for a record 22 Emmy Awards, the most ever of any comedy series on television in a single season. "30 Rock" premiered on October 4 and as it begins its final and seventh season.

Prior to creating "30 Rock," Fey completed nine seasons on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" with roles as head writer, cast member and co-anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment. Fey is an Emmy winner and two-time Writers Guild Award winner for her writing on "Saturday Night Live" and won an Emmy in 2009 for Guest Appearance by an Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Sarah Palin on the 2008-09 season of "SNL."

Since her transition to being in front of the camera, she has won much acclaim, including being named The Associated Press' Entertainer of the Year in 2008, one of Entertainment Weekly's Entertainers of the Year on numerous occasions, one of People magazine's "Most Beautiful People" (four times), and one of Time magazine's "Prestigious Time 100" (two times). "30 Rock" has earned her three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, a Golden Globe for Outstanding Comedy Series, a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, two Writers Guild Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and two Producers Guild Awards. She has also won two Gracie Awards, a Made in New York Award and was the youngest recipient of the Mark Twain Award for American Humor in 2010.

Fey expanded to feature films in spring 2004 as both a screenwriter and an actress in the hit comedy "Mean Girls," which earned her a nomination for a Writers Guild Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. On the big screen, Fey starred opposite Poehler in the film "Baby Mama" for Universal Pictures. In 2010, Fey starred in the 20th Century Fox's film "Date Night" opposite Steve Carell and was a featured voice in the DreamWorks animated film "Megamind." In April 2011, Fey released her first book, entitled "Bossypants," which topped the New York Times best seller list where it still remains. "Bossypants" also earned a Grammy nomination for best audio book of the year and won the prestigious Audie Award for Book of the Year in 2012. "Bossypants" was released in paperback in January 2012 and has sold over 1.5 million copies thus far.