‘Mean Girls’ fetches $11.7M in second weekend to stay No. 1 at box office

NEW YORK >> On a quiet weekend in movie theaters, “Mean Girls” repeated atop the box office with $11.7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

With a dearth of new releases in cinemas, Paramount Pictures’ Tina Fey-scripted musical “Mean Girls” pushed its two-week total past $50 million, along with $16.2 million internationally. So far, it’s outpacing the tally for the 2004 original “Mean Girls.”

Only one new film debuted in wide release: “I.S.S.,” a modestly budgeted sci-fi thriller starring Ariana DeBose. The film, which speculates what would happen aboard the International Space Station if war broke out between the U.S. and Russia, debuted with $3 million on 2,518 screens for Bleecker Street.

Selena Gomez to appear in ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ sequel

NEW YORK >> Selena Gomez and David Henrie are teaming back up for a “Wizards of Waverly Place” sequel.

Gomez, whose first major role was playing Alex Russo in the Disney Channel original, is executive producing the pilot for the new show alongside Henrie, who will also serve as a series regular, reports Deadline.

Henrie played her brother Justin Russo in the original “Wizards” and will star alongside new cast members, including Janice LeAnn Brown (Disney’s “Just Roll with It”), Alkaio Thiele (“Call Me Kat”) and Mimi Gianopulos (“American Princess”).

As of now, it’s unclear how often Gomez will make an appearance in the new show, other than the upcoming pilot episode, which is currently in the works.

News of the sequel comes 12 years after the original Disney show wrapped and marks another producing venture for Gomez, who currently stars in and executive produces the hit Hulu show “Only Murders in the Building.”