Did Raven Baxter see this coming?
That's So Raven is getting a spin-off on the Disney Channel, and Raven-Symoné is returning to gaze into the future once again as Raven Baxter, and to executive produce the new series, the network announced on Thursday.
The spinoff, which is currently untitled, finds Raven as a divorced mom of a preteen son and daughter, one of whom has inherited her ability to see glimpses of the future. Casting for the kids is currently underway.
Raven is currently a regular c-host on The View, but will be exiting the ABC daytime talk show in December in order to work with Disney Channel on producing this series.
"Raven's brilliant style of fearless comedy was a driving force for Disney Channel's success around the world," Disney Channel executive vice president Adam Bonnet said in a statement. "Her performance in That's So Raven is timeless. 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."
Eyes on the future. See what he did there?
That's So Raven ran on the Disney Channel from 2003 to 2007 and followed Raven as she navigated being a teen with a magical ability to catch glimpses of the future. She used those glimpses to try and change the future, but usually just ended up causing disasters.
Orlando Brown and Anneliese Van der Pol starred as Raven's best friends, while T'Keyah Crystal Keymah and Rondell Sheridan played her parents. Kyle Massey starred as Raven's brother, Cory, who later got his own spinoff, Cory in the House, which ran from 2007 to 2008.
The spinoff comes from writers Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff (Best Friends Whenever, R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour), with Raven executive producing. She was also named executive producer on season four of the original series.
When she announced her exit on The View, Raven said there is no title yet, but she's calling it That's So Raven 2 and they're going to start auditions soon. "I'm just so excited," she said.
View cohost Candace Cameron Bure, who also stars in Fuller House, a sequel series to Full House, asked if there would be an original cast reunion on the That's So Raven spinoff as well. That is to be determined, but they are going to scour the country for the kids to play Raven Baxter's children. "Anybody who wants to be on the Disney Channel, there's going to be auditions soon for the new That's So Raven, so let's go," she said.
Disney Channel has already had success with Girl Meets World, which follows the kids of Boy Meets World's Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel). And honestly, we wouldn't be mad if this became a trend. Hilary Duff does have a kid in real life, and we can already picture Lizzie and Gordo making excellent parents. You're welcome for that idea, Disney Channel!