'That's So Raven' spinoff cast and plot greenlit by Disney
The cast of Disney’s upcoming “That’s So Raven” spinoff has now been revealed, along with what fans can expect from Raven’s return to the Disney house. The spinoff will be called “Raven’s Home” and will follow the titular character’s living with her best friend as the two navigate their lives as two divorced single mothers raising their kids under one roof. Raven Symone will be reprising her role as Raven Baxter while Anneliese van der Pol returns as Raven’s best friend, Chelsea Daniels.
Joining the cast are Issac Brown and Navia Robinson, who will be portraying Raven’s 11-year-old twins Booker and Nia respectively. The story will also star Nia’s best friend Tess, who will be played by Sky Katz. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s nine-year-old son, Levi, will be portrayed by the young Jason Maybaum.
Notably missing from the original cast is actor Orlando Brown, who completed Raven’s trio as Eddie Thomas in the original series. According to TMZ, the role was recast and later given to YouTube star Alonzo Lerone.
While the "Raven" sequel was first announced last year, the Disney Channel has now ordered for the spinoff to begin production this month. As per Deadline, the show is slated to make its premiere sometime later this year. Symone, who previously had a spot on “The View,” had chosen to step down from her post in order to focus on the upcoming sequel. She will not only be returning as its lead but also as an executive producer for the show. Joining her is the writer-producer duo Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff of the Disney Channel’s “Best Friends Whenever.”
The original “That’s So Raven” was a supernatural teen comedy sitcom that aired on the Disney Channel from 2003 to 2007. The story revolved around its protagonist, Raven, and her ability to see into the future. The series was later nominated for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children’s Programming back in 2005 and 20017.
A previous spinoff series called “Cory in the House” focused on Raven’s younger brother, Cory (Kyle Massey) and his adventures at the White House with his father, Victor (Rondell Sheridan) who is hired as the new personal chef of the president. “Raven’s Home” will be the first direct sequel featuring an adult Raven.
The forthcoming “That’s So Raven” spinoff joins the ranks of other sitcom favourites making a comeback. It is similar to that of “Fuller House” and “Girl Meets World” in that both shows follow an extension of their original counterparts (“Full House” and “Boy Meets World” respectively) as the original characters work their way through their now adult lives.
