Freeform's BLACK-ISH Spin Off Gets New Name; Casts 3 New Series Regulars

Freeform, Disney's young adult television and streaming network, adds three series regulars to "grown-ish," a spin-off of ABC's award-winning hit series "black-ish," starring breakout star Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson, from ABC Signature Studios. The 13-episode, single-camera comedy will start production next month and is set to premiere early 2018 on FreeForm and the Freeform App, available on connected TV, mobile devices and online.

Emily Arlook ("The Good Place," "Hand of God"), Chris Parnell ("Saturday Night Live") and Trevor Jackson ("Burning Sands," "American Crime") join the previously announced cast of Yara Shahidi ("black-ish") and Deon Cole ("black-ish"), with additional casting to be announced.

Creator and executive producer Kenya Barris said, "'grown-ish' reflects what we'll be dealing with in the show - that in-between place where you're not quite an adult but facing grown world problems for the first time. Where 'black-ish' examines what it means to be black, 'grown-ish' is an examination of what it is and what it means to be grown."

From "black-ish" executive producer Kenya Barris comes a contemporary take on the current issues facing both students and administrators in the world of higher education. Yara Shahidi portrays Zoey - Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow's (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active 17-year-old daughter - as she heads off to college and quickly discovers that not everything goes her way once she leaves the nest. Yara is joined by "black-ish"'s Deon Cole (Charlie) who portrays Charlie, Dre's eccentric and unpredictable co-worker at Stevens & Lido. Zoey runs into Charlie during college orientation where she learns that he moonlights as an adjunct marketing professor. Arlook will portray Miriam, a freshman know-it-all at Southern California University with a no-holds-barred attitude. Parnell will portray the dean of Southern California University, and Jackson will portray a socially conscious sophomore at Southern California University.

Kenya Barris, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland and Brian Dobbins are executive producers of the series.

The series joins Freeform's expanding original comedy slate including "Young & Hungry," starring Emily Osment; along with recently announced comedies "Alone Together," starring Benji Aflalo and Esther Povitsky; and "Marvel's New Warriors," starring Milana Vayntrub and Derek Theler, both set to premiere in 2018.

About Freeform

Part of the Disney|ABC Television Group, FreeForm connects to audiences and goes beyond entertainment with bold original programming and immersive social engagement. As Disney's young adult television and streaming network, it delivers a unique mix of quality original and acquired series, plus fan-favorite movies and the holiday events "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." The FreeForm app is a service that allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access via a wide array of devices.

About ABC Signature Studios

ABC Signature Studios is ABC Studios' boutique division spearheading development and production in premium and basic cable, as well as digital platforms. Signature is currently in pre-production on their half-hour comedy series "SMILF" for Showtime, based on the Sundance Award-winning short film from Frankie Shaw who wrote, directed and will star in the show. Shaw produces with Groundswell Productions and Quantity Entertainment. Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios are also in pre-production on three new series including "Marvel's Runaways" for Hulu, "Marvel's Cloak & Dagger" and "Marvel's New Warriors" for Freeform. Signature co-produced with Fifty Fathoms the recently aired John Ridley series "Guerrilla" for Sky Atlantic and Showtime, starring Freida Pinto, Babou Ceesay and Idris Elba. Signature's other credits include "Dead of Summer," "Blood & Oil," "Benched" and the Emmy-nominated HBO film "Confirmation," starring Kerry Washington and Wendell Pierce.

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