“That’s So Raven” Reboot in the Works at Disney Channel
The future holds a bit of the past at Disney Channel. The network announced today that it is teaming up with Raven-Symoné to develop a reboot of her hit series “That’s So Raven.”
Raven-Symoné announced the news on Today’s episode of The View, explaining that this was the reason she had been appearing less as host of the show.
OH SNAP! @RavenSymone shares the details of her big news — a ‘That’s So Raven’ spin-off: “I’m very excited!”
https://t.co/ueJ96xF2M1— The View (@TheView) October 27, 2016
In the currently untitled reboot (though the actress has taken to calling it “That’s So Raven 2”) Raven is now a divorced mother of two pre-teen kids (a son and daughter). At some point, one of them discovers they have inherited her ability to catch glimpses of the future. As far as returning “That’s So Raven” grads, no official confirmation has been made. Raven-Symoné noted that while she is executive producing, she is not the head of casting, and could only say that she herself will be starring.
“Raven’s brilliant style of fearless comedy was a driving force for Disney Channel’s success around the world. Her performance in ‘That’s So Raven’ is timeless” Adam Bonnett, executive vice president, Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide, said. “We now have our eyes on the future with her, and we’re looking forward to telling more stories for a new generation with an adult Raven Baxter raising her young family.”
The 2003 series brought a number of firsts for Disney Channel, being the network’s first original multi-camera production, as well as the first show on the network to hit 100 episodes. Another milestone for Disney Channel, Raven was the first African-American woman to have her name in a comedy series title.
“That’s So Raven,” told the story of Raven Baxter, a teen whose ability to glimpse flashes of the future often got her into hot water (and hilarious disguises). The series was an immediate hit with its January 2003 premiere posting the highest ratings ever in Households, Kids 6-11, Tweens and Boys 6-11 for a Disney Channel original series at the time. Fans of the series remained loyal; in its most recent midnight telecasts on Disney Channel, the series still delivered on average 1.057 million Total Viewers.
Along with Raven’s return, longtime writer/producer partners Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff (Disney Channel’s “Best Friends Whenever,” Emmy nominees for “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour”) are working on the development of the untitled spin-off series.