Raven-Symoné is leaving ‘The View’ to develop a spinoff of Disney Channel hit ‘That’s So Raven’
There’s yet another departure coming to “The View”: Raven-Symoné will leave the ABC daytime talker later this year to develop a Disney Channel spinoff of her onetime popular series “That’s So Raven.”
Raven-Symoné announced her exit as a cohost on Thursday’s episode of “The View.”
The 30-year-old actress will relocate to Los Angeles to develop the sitcom. She will be an executive producer and reprise her role as Raven Baxter in the offshoot of her hit comedy.
The original series, which ran from 2003 to 2007, told the story of a teen whose ability to glimpse flashes of the future provided for amusing situations. In the pilot for the spinoff, viewers catch up with Raven, who is now a divorced mother to two pre-teen kids, one of whom has inherited her psychic powers.
Writers are working on the script for the untitled project, and casting for Raven-Symoné’s kids is to get underway soon.
Recent midnight repeats of the original series on Disney Channel still deliver an average of 1.057 million total viewers, according to the channel.
“Raven’s brilliant style of fearless comedy was a driving force for Disney Channel’s success around the world,” Adam Bonnett, executive vice president for original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide, said in a statement. “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.”
There had been speculation this past summer that Raven-Symoné would be leaving “The View” to focus on her acting career. At the time, the rumors were shot down.
The most-read Entertainment stories this hour »
Raven-Symoné, who appeared in “The Cosby Show” as a child, officially joined “The View” as a full-time cohost in 2015 after serving as a frequent fill-in following the departure or Rosie O’Donnell.She has generated more than her fair share of headline-making moments, such as when she vowed to move to Canada if a Republican was “nominated” for president. “
“The View,” created by the news legend Barbara Walters in 1997, is now in its 20th season and has become known for casting shakeups, particularly in the last few years as producers made attempts to reinvent the show. Earlier this summer, Michelle Collins left after a year as cohost.
Raven-Symoné leaves as the current season of the gabfest has seen a ratings lift, up 16% in total viewers (2.852 million) year-to-year.
Twitter: @villarrealy
The complete guide to home viewing
Get Screen Gab for everything about the TV shows and streaming movies everyone’s talking about.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
