I never thought I’d see the day when Disney would bring the Cheetah Girls back, but here we are. If you grew up rushing home to watch Disney Channel originals, The Cheetah Girls wasn’t just another movie. It was one of those films that made you and your friends believe you could start a girl group with nothing more than matching outfits, a dream, and a catchy song. So hearing that The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen is officially happening feels like a genuine blast from the past.
The new film will reunite Raven-Symoné as Galleria and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton as Chanel, with Sabrina Bryan making a special appearance as Dorinda. Familiar faces Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter are also returning, while a new generation of Cheetah Girls takes center stage. The story follows Galleria’s daughter, Faith, played by Leah Sava’ Jeffries, as she joins friends on a volunteer trip to a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa, where music, friendship, and the famous Cheetah spirit once again take center stage.
As someone who practically wore out the soundtrack to The Cheetah Girls and still remembers every word to “Cinderella,” this announcement hits you in the feels. It’s also exciting to see Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton returning, helping shape the future of a franchise that meant so much to an entire generation of Disney Channel fans.
Production begins this month in South Africa, although Disney has not yet announced a release date. Until then, I’ll probably be revisiting The Cheetah Girls trilogy and remembering just how “cheetah-licious” those movies really were.
