Nationwide — The Cheetah Girls franchise is making a comeback with a new Disney movie titled The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen. Original cast members Raven-Symoné, Adrienne Bailon, and Sabrina Bryan will reprise their roles as Galleria, Chanel, and Dorinda in the upcoming film.
Production for the new movie will begin later this month in South Africa, according to Variety. The film will continue the story of Disney’s popular musical franchise and will be available on Disney Channel and Disney+.
Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter will also return as Dorothea and Juanita. Kiely Williams, who played Aqua in the original movies, is not currently part of the project.
The upcoming film will introduce a new generation of characters. Leah Sava’ Jeffries will play Faith, Galleria’s daughter, while Carmen Sanchez will portray Dior, Chanel’s sister. Sophia Bush joins the cast as Jennifré, along with Kaileen Chang, Sophie Lennon, and Kamogelo Ramashala in new roles.
The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen follows Galleria and Chanel as they travel to Africa with Faith and her friends to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary. Their adventure puts their friendship to the test as they find their voices, protect the preserve, and discover the true meaning of the Cheetah spirit.
Debra Martin Chase will return as executive producer, while Raven-Symoné will also help lead the project behind the scenes. Bille Woodruff will direct and co-produce the film, with Adrienne Bailon serving as a co-producer.
The original The Cheetah Girls movie premiered in 2003 and became one of Disney Channel’s most successful musical films. The franchise later expanded with two sequels, a hit soundtrack, and tours featuring members of the group before its original run ended in 2008.
Based on the book series by Deborah Gregory, The Cheetah Girls helped shape Disney Channel’s musical movie era. The franchise’s success influenced later hits such as High School Musical, Camp Rock, and Descendants.