Disney Channel
Disney is officially bringing “The Cheetah Girls” back.
The company has greenlit “The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen,” a music-driven original film for Disney Channel and Disney+, with production set to begin this month in South Africa. The project blends a fresh cast of young performers with returning stars from the beloved Disney Channel franchise.
Leading the next chapter are Leah Sava’ Jeffries (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), Carmen Sanchez (Electric Bloom), Kaileen Chang and Sophie Lennon, alongside Kamogelo Ramashala. Jeffries will portray Faith, the daughter of the original Cheetah Girl Galleria, while Sanchez plays Dior, the younger sister of Chanel.
Original cast members Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon reprise their roles as Galleria and Chanel, respectively. Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter also return as Dorothea and Juanita, while Sabrina Bryan will make a special appearance as Dorinda. Sophia Bush joins the cast in a supporting role as Jennifré.
The film follows Galleria, Chanel, Faith and three friends as they travel to Africa to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary. As the group works to protect the preserve, they navigate their friendships, discover their own creative identities and ultimately form the next Cheetah Girls.
Longtime franchise producer Debra Martin Chase returns as executive producer alongside Raven-Symoné. Bille Woodruff, who directed “The Cheetah Girls 2,” is back to direct and co-produce, with a screenplay from Kara Holden, Sarah Watson and Deborah Swisher.
Disney says the new installment aims to preserve the themes that made the original trilogy resonate with audiences, friendship, music, confidence and self-expression, while introducing a new cast and story for today’s modern viewers.
The announcement arrives during a year of renewed attention on Disney Channel’s most recognizable musical franchises. Alongside milestone anniversaries for “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana,” Disney is preparing new installments in the “Descendants” and “Camp Rock” franchises, reflecting the company’s broader strategy of revisiting fan favorites for the streaming era.
Originally debuting in 2003, “The Cheetah Girls” became one of Disney Channel’s most successful original movie franchises, spawning three films, multiple soundtrack albums and a devoted global fanbase.
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