Disney is reprising the Cheetah Girls, and millennials globally are rejoicing.
The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen has been greenlit for Disney Channel and Disney+, from executive producers Debra Martin Chase and Raven-Symoné, who returns to her role as Galleria, alongside Adrienne Bailon, who returns 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.
A new cast of talented young actresses stars in the movie, including 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), along with 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.
Debra Martin Chase (“The Princess Diaries”), who executive produced the first three “The Cheetah Girls” films, returns for this latest installment alongside Raven-Symoné as executive producer. 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. Adrienne Bailon is a co-producer. The films are based on “The Cheetah Girls” book series by Deborah Gregory.
“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.”
The Cheetah Girls franchise is one of the most popular Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) franchises. 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.* All three movies were among the Top 15 of over 70 DCOM premieres at the time of The Cheetah Girls: One World premiere in 2008 and in the Top 15 with all viewers 2+, Girls 6-11, Girls 6-14.**
More than two decades after the first movie’s debut, “The Cheetah Girls” franchise continues to resonate in the cultural zeitgeist as a touchstone of early-2000s pop culture. Through music, fashion and themes of friendship, ambition and self-expression, the films introduced a generation of viewers to a vision of young women supporting one another while pursuing their dreams. In the age of social media, nostalgia-driven discussions, viral clips and renewed appreciation for the franchise’s representation have kept “The Cheetah Girls” relevant, cementing their legacy as both a cultural phenomenon and an enduring symbol of empowerment.
The Cheetah Girls greenlight news comes during a landmark year for Disney Channel fans, as 2026 celebrates the milestone anniversaries of “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana,” leading into the premieres of new franchise installments “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland” and “Camp Rock 3” this summer. It was recently announced that the “Worlds Collide Tour” will return this fall with talent from the “Descendants,” “ZOMBIES” and “Camp Rock” franchises.
The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls: One World are now streaming on Disney+ and can be found in the “Throwbacks” Collection alongside other iconic Disney stories from the 1990s and 2000s.
