• Director Andy Fickman was pitched a lot of drug-related ideas at the premiere of Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical before coming across the script for a teen comedy, She’s the Man, based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
• The ensemble of mostly unknown actors—including Channing Tatum—went on to make She’s the Man a cult classic despite having a budget of $20 million and only grossing $57 million worldwide
• Director Andy Fickman was particularly impressed by Amanda Bynes’ work and found it challenging to transform her into twin brother Sebastian for the film
Here is what happened:
Amanda Bynes returns to the spotlight with a new podcast after receiving widespread appreciation for her performances over nearly two decades. The director of the film Reefer Madness, Andy Fickman, paired up with screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith to bring She’s the Man to life, a modern take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night that became a cult classic after a less-than-ideal box office opening. Credit is given to the originality of the movie and all the talent involved.
Amanda Bynes, in one of her most beloved roles and paired with superstar Channing Tatum, presented a comedic performance that warmed the hearts of many. The film was shot on a $20 million budget, and even opened with a disappointing grossing, making only $10 million in its opening weekend.
Fickman recalled his impressions of Amanda Bynes’ cleverness and innate comedic talent since her time doing the Nickelodeon show The Amanda Show and was blown away by her intelligence and creativity. Channing Tatum joined the cast in one of his first major roles, and the chemistry among the cast contributed to the film’s success. While most of the cast had some soccer experience before, Bynes and Tatum practiced with a coach for weeks to film the movie’s action scenes. The crew also worked meticulously to find the right wig for Bynes’ character. The film ultimately became a classic, and with “entertaining with kindness and love” as principal goals, Andy Fickman expressed pride in his role in it.
