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The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen Officially Confirmed by Disney Channel & Disney+
Get ready to growl, Disney fans! The Cheetah Girls are officially back. Disney Channel and Disney+ have given a formal greenlight to “The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen,” a brand-new, music-driven movie that will bring back iconic original stars while passing the mic to a talented new generation.
Production kicks off in South Africa this month, making this the ultimate nostalgic revival for early-2000s fans.
Related – Disney+ and Hulu Kick Off Summer of Nostalgia with Classic Throwbacks
In major news for longtime fans, Raven-Symoné is back as Galleria and Adrienne Bailon is returning as Chanel! Not only are they stepping back into their iconic roles, but they are also working behind the scenes—Raven-Symoné serves as an executive producer alongside original franchise EP Debra Martin Chase (The Princess Diaries), while Bailon serves as a co-producer.
The nostalgia doesn’t stop there. Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter are reprising their roles as the fabulous moms, Dorothea and Juanita. Plus, Sabrina Bryan is set to make a special appearance as Dorinda! Adding even more star power to the lineup, Sophia Bush will appear in a supporting role as Jennifré.
While our favorite originals are back to guide the way, the film will introduce a fresh new squad ready to find their own Cheetah spirit:
- Leah Sava’ Jeffries (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) stars as Galleria’s daughter, Faith.
- Carmen Sanchez (Electric Bloom) stars as Chanel’s sister, Dior.
- Kaileen Chang stars as Ruby.
- Sophie Lennon stars as Brooklyn.
- Kamogelo Ramashala, a local South African actor discovered during Disney’s global open casting call, joins the cast as Kendi.
The story picks up years later as Galleria (Symoné) and Chanel (Bailon), alongside Galleria’s daughter Faith (Jeffries) and her three best friends, travel to Africa to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary. Along the way, these four teen girls will have their friendship tested, find their unique voices, and discover what it truly means to have “Cheetah Power” as they work to save the preserve—and ultimately take the stage as the new Cheetah Girls.
“The Cheetah Girls has always been about friendship, music, and empowering young people to use their voice,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “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.”
The film is directed and co-produced by Bille Woodruff (Bridgerton), written by Kara Holden, Sarah Watson, and Deborah Swisher, and features high-energy choreography by Kyle Hanagami.
This greenlight comes during a landmark year for Disney Channel fans. 2026 marks milestone anniversaries for High School Musical and Hannah Montana, leading straight into a massive summer of premieres including Descendants: Wicked Wonderland and Camp Rock 3. Disney also recently announced the return of the “Worlds Collide Tour” this fall, featuring talent from Descendants, ZOMBIES, and Camp Rock.
The original Cheetah Girls trilogy—based on the book series by Deborah Gregory—remains one of the most successful DCOM franchises in history, breaking ratings records throughout the 2000s and remaining a viral cultural touchstone today.
While we wait for Next Gen to hit our screens, you can stream The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls 2, and The Cheetah Girls: One World right now on Disney+ in the “Throwbacks” Collection!
Are you excited for the return of Galleria and Chanel?
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