Lil Nas X and other LGBTQ stars set to guest star in Disney+ reboot of The Proud Family
Lena Waithe and Jane Lynch are among those voicing characters in the reboot, due to appear on Disney+ in 2022.
Words: Alastair James; Image: Charlotte Rutherford
The reboot of the animated sitcom, The Proud Family, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, is getting an amazingly queer and queer-friendly cast, it’s been revealed.
Previously it had been announced that queer actors Zachary Quinto, Billy Porter, Keke Palmer, and EJ Johnson had been cast as recurring characters in the reboot, but now we’ve had more details of a range of guest stars who will be lending their vocal talents to the Disney+ show.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will continue the story of Penny Proud and her family and friends after the original show, which ran from 2001 to 2005.
“It was so relatable”
Joining the returning cast, as well as Quinto, Porter, Palmer, and Johnson will be Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Lena Waithe, Jane Lynch, and beauty influencer Bretman Rock.
Other A-listers taking part include Chance the Rapper, Normani, Tiffany Haddish, Anthony Anderson, Gabrielle Union, Courtney B. Vance, Marsai Martin, Jaden Smith, Brenda Song, Tina Knowles to name just a few.
Porter and Quinto will voice Randall and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins respectively – mixed-race adoptive parents to 14-year-old activist Maya (Palmer) Meanwhile, EJ Johnson will voice non-conforming trendsetter Michael Collins, the best guy friend to Penny.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the show, EJ Johnson said of the original: “It was a huge part of my childhood and I hold that very dear to my heart.” Waithe added, “It was so relatable, it was very specific. It looked like our family, and it was irreverent.” Keke Palmer said: “even though it was on a kids network, it still had the right amount of edge for it to be accessible to everybody.”
Kyla Pratt is returning to the lead role of Penny, a talented African American teenager. Tommy Davidson and Paula Jai Parker are also returning as Penny’s parents Oscar and Judy, as is JoMarie Payton grandmother Suga Mama.
Penny’s twin siblings BeBe and CeCe and her friends, Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez, and Zoey Howzer, will also return.
All original episodes, and the movie, are available to stream on Disney+ now, while the new series is expected to debut on the streaming service in 2022.
Watch a special featurette below:
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