‘The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen’ Gets Disney Greenlight; Raven-Symoné & Adrienne Bailon To Return For Latest Franchise…

The Cheetah Girls are returning to the small screen. The latest installment in the franchise, The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen, has been greenlit for for Disney Channel and Disney+.

Debra Martin Chase, who executive produced the first three films in the franchise, returns for the latest installment, along with Raven-Symoné, who returns to her role as Galleria alongside Adrienne Bailon returning as Chanel. Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter are set to reprise their roles as Dorothea and Juanita, while Sabrina Bryan will make a special appearance as Dorinda, and Sophia Bush is set to appear in a supporting role as Jennifré. The music-driven film goes into production in South Africa this month.

New cast members include Leah Sava’ Jeffries (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) as Galleria’s daughter Faith, Carmen Sanchez (Electric Bloom) as Chanel’s sister Dior, Kaileen Chang as Ruby, and Sophie Lennon as Brooklyn. Newcomer Kamogelo Ramashala, a local South African actor discovered during Disney’s global open casting call, is set as Kendi.

The story picks up when Cheetah Girls Galleria (Symoné) and Chanel (Bailon), alongside Galleria’s daughter Faith (Jeffries) and her three friends, travel to Africa to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary. Along the way, these four teen girls test their friendship, find their voice, and discover the true Cheetah spirit as they save the preserve and ultimately take the stage as the new Cheetah Girls.

Chase and Raven-Symoné executive produce. The film is directed and co-produced by Bille Woodruff (Bridgerton) and written by Kara Holden, Sarah Watson and Deborah Swisher, the movie is produced by Disney Kids & Family and features choreography by Kyle Hanagami. Bailon is a co-producer.

The Cheetah Girls films are based on the book series by Deborah Gregory. When it premiered in 2003, The Cheetah Girls was the No. 1 highest-rated movie on broadcast or cable, and The Cheetah Girls 2 was the highest-rated movie on broadcast or cable during 2006 with Kids 6-11, Kids 9-14, Girls 6-11, and Girls 9-14. The Cheetah Girls: One World was No. 1 across all broadcast and cable for the week it premiered with Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14.

“The Cheetah Girls has always been about friendship, music, and empowering young people to use their voice,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “That spirit connected deeply with a generation of fans, and it still resonates today. Bringing this dynamic new group of young stars to the franchise allows us to continue that legacy for a new era of kids and families.”