“The Proud Family” Revival Adds to Disney+ Cast
Since the announcement in November of “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” the upcoming Disney+ animated series cast continues to grow.
Yesterday, Disney+ announced that Billy Porter (“Pose”), Zachary Quinto (“Star Trek”) and EJ Johnson (“Rich Kids of Beverly Hills”) will join the ensemble.
Image Credit: Disney+
New Cast and Characters
First up, Porter and Quinto are set to play mixed-race adoptive parents Randall and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins.
Image Credit: ABC/Rick Rowell
Their adopted daughter, 14-year-old Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, is an activist. Maya will be voiced by award-winning actress and singer Keke Palmer.
Image Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
In his first animated role, EJ Johnson will play Michael Collins, originally voiced by Phil Lamarr. Collins acts as Penny’s best guy friend.
According to Disney+, he is trend-setting, non-conforming and also a great basketball player. (As the son of basketball legend Ervin “Magic” Johnson, EJ may have all the background knowledge needed for that element of the role.)
Image Credit: Courtesy of EJ Johnson in Vogue
The Story Continues
According to Disney+, the revival continues the story of Penny Proud and her eccentric family. Her parents Oscar and Trudy, her twin siblings BeBe and Cece, and her grandmother Suga Mama all return.
Penny’s loyal group of friends will also join her again, including Dijonay Jones, Zoey Howzer, and frenemy LaCienega Boulevardez.
Image Credit: Disney+
Adding to the excitement, the show features many of the original cast as well, including Kyla Pratt as Penny, Tommy Davidson (Oscar), Paula Jai Parker (Trudy), and JoMarie Payton (Suga Mama). In supporting roles, Carlos Mencia (Felix), Maria Canals-Barrera (Sunset), Alvaro Gutierrez (Papi), Karen Malina White (Dijonay), and Soleil Moon Frye (Zoey) all return in their original roles. Alisa Reyes reprises her role as Penny’s nemesis LaCienega, and Cedric the Entertainer also returns as Uncle Bobby.
Show creator and executive producer Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar are sure to feature messages about inclusion and diversity woven throughout Penny’s characteristic adventures (and mishaps).
Image Credit: The Disney Channel
Though we are still waiting for details on the 2022 release, the original episodes of “The Proud Family” and “The Proud Family Movie” are available on Disney+.
Feature Image Credit: Disney+
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