Cheetah Girls 4 Is Officially Happening With Raven-Symone Returning

Disney has officially greenlit a fourth Cheetah Girls film, titled The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen, with original stars Raven-Symone and Adrienne Bailon reprising their roles as Galleria and Chanel more than two decades after the franchise began. Production starts this month in South Africa.

The announcement lands with a specific structural choice that separates it from a typical legacy sequel: rather than simply reuniting the original quartet for a nostalgia lap, Next Gen is explicitly a generational handoff. The story follows Galleria and Chanel travelling to Africa with Galleria's daughter Faith, played by Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Leah Sava Jeffries, and her three friends, to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary — a setup that positions the new younger cast as the actual leads while the original stars operate in a mentorship capacity.

The new cast beyond Jeffries includes Carmen Sanchez as Chanel's sister Dior, Kaileen Chang as Ruby, Sophie Lennon as Brooklyn, and Kamogelo Ramashala, discovered through Disney's global open casting call, as Kendi. Sophia Bush joins in a supporting role as Jennifre. Sabrina Bryan returns for a special appearance as Dorinda, while Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter reprise Dorothea and Juanita respectively; original cast member Kiely Williams, who played Aqua, is not currently attached to the project.

Raven-Symone's return carries particular weight given her history with the franchise: she starred in the original 2003 film and its 2006 sequel but sat out 2008's The Cheetah Girls: One World, making Next Gen her first appearance in the series in twenty years. She announced the news herself on Instagram with a video captioned "It's happening, and it's CHEETAHLISHIOUS!", and is credited as an executive producer alongside original trilogy producer Debra Martin Chase.

The original Cheetah Girls, based on Deborah Gregory's book series, debuted on Disney Channel in 2003 and became the network's highest-rated broadcast or cable movie at the time, spawning a franchise that helped establish the template later used by High School Musical, Camp Rock, and Descendants. Director Bille Woodruff, known for his work on Bridgerton, takes the helm for Next Gen, working from a script by Kara Holden, Sarah Watson, and Deborah Swisher.

Disney has not yet announced a release date or platform split between Disney Channel and Disney+, but given the franchise's history and Disney's current release patterns for similar family titles, a same-day or near-simultaneous rollout across both platforms is the most likely outcome once filming wraps.

The announcement also lands at a moment when Disney is actively rebuilding its Disney Channel Original Movie pipeline after several relatively quiet years for the format that once produced High School Musical and Descendants at a rapid clip. Disney Kids and Family president Ayo Davis framed the revival explicitly around legacy and continuity rather than pure nostalgia marketing, describing the franchise's core themes of friendship and empowerment as still resonating with new audiences.

The original trilogy's commercial footprint is also worth remembering for context: the first Cheetah Girls film became the highest-rated broadcast or cable movie of its time when it debuted in 2003, and its soundtrack, choreography, and merchandising model directly shaped how Disney approached subsequent franchises. Next Gen's decision to physically relocate the story to Africa, rather than keep it anchored in the New York setting of the earlier films, also signals a broader ambition than a simple retread.

Quick Facts

• Title: The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen, greenlit for Disney Channel and Disney+

• Returning stars: Raven-Symone (Galleria) and Adrienne Bailon (Chanel), Raven-Symone's first appearance in the franchise in 20 years

• New leads: Leah Sava Jeffries as Faith, Galleria's daughter, alongside a new group of friends played by Carmen Sanchez, Kaileen Chang, and Sophie Lennon

• Plot: Galleria and Chanel travel to Africa with the new generation to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary

• Production begins this month in South Africa, directed by Bille Woodruff

• International: the original Cheetah Girls trilogy remains available on Disney+ globally for viewers catching up ahead of the new film

FAQs

Is there a new Cheetah Girls movie?

Yes, Disney has greenlit The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen, with production starting this month in South Africa.

Is Raven-Symone in the new Cheetah Girls movie?

Yes, she returns as Galleria and also serves as an executive producer — her first appearance in the franchise in 20 years.

Who plays the new Cheetah Girls in Next Gen?

The new generation is led by Leah Sava Jeffries as Faith, Galleria's daughter, alongside Carmen Sanchez, Kaileen Chang, and Sophie Lennon as her friends.

When does Cheetah Girls: Next Gen come out?

Disney has not yet announced a release date; production only begins this month in South Africa.