The Cheetah Girls,” one of Disney’s most popular franchises, is coming back to the screen and will be filming in South Africa.
The series, which was released in 2003, followed four high school friends as they navigated teenage life and in “The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen,” Raven-Symoné, the star of the series, will return to her role as Galleria.
A new cast of actresses starring in the movie include 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, the South African actor discovered during Disney’s global open casting call will play Kendi.
The story picks up when Cheetah Girls 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.
“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 music-driven film goes into production this month.
By Samantha Ofole-Prince
