Disney Announces New Cheetah Girls Installment “Next Gen”, Cast Revealed

Gayes! The Cheetah Girls are back on the prowl, and Raven Symone is set to return to lead the pack.

Earlier this week, Disney announced Raven-Symone would return as her iconic character Galleria Garibaldi in a new installment of The Cheetah Girls franchise titled “The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen”

Directed by Bille Woodruff, The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen follows Galleria’s daughter, Faith (Leah Sava Jeffries), and her three friends as they journey to an African nature reserve. There, the girls discover more about themselves, strengthen their friendship, and embrace the Cheetah spirit as they step into their roles as the next generation of Cheetah Girls.

Symoné isn’t the only Cheetah Girls alum ready to don her Cheetah spots . Adrienne Bailon is also set to reprise her fan-favorite role as Chanel, while Sabrina Bryan will make a special appearance as Dorinda. Returning alongside them are Mama Cheetah’s Lynn Whitfield as Dorothea and Lori Alter as Juanita, reprising their beloved roles from the original films.

One familiar face, however, is notably absent. Kiely Williams, who portrayed Aqua in the original trilogy, is not attached to the project at this time, leaving one Cheetah sister missing from the reunion. Maybe she got lost in the Sahara? I, for one, think it would be spectacular to see her on our screens again. *winks*

The Cheetah Girls executive producer Debra Martin Chase is returning to lead the next chapter of the franchise, with Symoné also serving as an executive producer. In addition to directing duties, Bille Woodruff will co-produce the film, with a screenplay written by Kara Holden, Sarah Watson, and Deborah Swisher.

Alongside reprising her role as Chanel, Adrienne Bailon will also serve as a co-producer on the film, while Kyle Hanagami will oversee choreography.
“The Cheetah Girls has always been rooted in friendship, music, and empowering young people to embrace their voices,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family. “That message resonated with a generation of fans and continues to inspire audiences today. Introducing this talented new group of young stars allows us to honor the franchise’s legacy while bringing its spirit to a new generation of kids and families.”

When The Cheetah Girls premiered on Disney Channel in 2003, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon, laying the foundation for a new era of Disney musical franchises, including High School Musical, Camp Rock, Descendants, and beyond.

Based on Deborah Gregory’s young adult book series of the same name, the franchise grew beyond the page to include a trio of hit Disney Channel Original Movies, chart-topping soundtracks, albums, a real-life touring girl group, dolls, clothing, video games, and additional books.

The party’s just begun 🐆 Introducing The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen. pic.twitter.com/GLcirqxDed

— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) July 8, 2026

Given the franchise’s enduring legacy, fans who grew up with the original franchise had plenty to say after Disney unveiled the cast of The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen, introducing a new generation of Cheetahs.

Fans certainly had their claws out after a 21-second teaser introducing the next generation of Cheetah Girls hit the internet.
The new generation of Cheetahs includes Leah Sava Jeffries (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) as Faith, Galleria’s daughter; Carmen Sanchez (Electric Bloom) as Dior, Chanel’s younger sister; Kaileen Chang as Ruby; and Sophie Lennon, who rounds out the quartet as Brooklyn.

While some viewers criticized the new lineup, with some describing it as “whitewashed,” others took issue with the reboot itself, questioning whether the franchise should be revisited at all.

One user questioned the casting direction, writing, “How the hell you whitewash The Cheetah Girls?” Another criticized what they saw as a broader trend in minimizing black women in entertainment, posting, “2020s media, stop whitewashing and/or flat-out erasing Black people (especially Black women) challenge.”

Others questioned the decision to revisit beloved Disney franchises instead of creating entirely new stories for younger audiences. “Why do they keep recreating/continuing old stories instead of making new ones for the next generation? Descendants, Camp Rock, Wizards, HSM, That’s So Raven, and now Cheetah Girls?” one user wrote.

Neither Disney nor anyone involved with the film has publicly addressed the backlash. Production on The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen is set to begin later this month in South Africa.