Black Hollywood isn’t finished telling the stories that raised a generation. Across film and television, franchises once shelved or left dormant for decades are getting new life with original stars, writers, or producers reclaiming creative control.
Streamers and studios are betting that audiences want continuity, and the numbers are already backing that up, with early 2026 reboots posting some of the strongest debut performances on their respective platforms. Here are five Black TV and film reboots defining the year.
Scary Movie 6 reunites the Wayans family
Paramount released Scary Movie 6 in theaters on June 5, marking the first time Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory Wayans have written together since Scary Movie 2 in 2001. Directed by Michael Tiddes, the film reunites Anna Faris and Regina Hall alongside the Wayans brothers, spoofing recent horror hits including Weapons, Sinners, Get Out, and M3GAN. Paramount moved the release up a week after a strong trailer response.
Cheetah Girls Next Generation brings Back Raven-Symoné
Disney greenlit The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen for Disney Channel and Disney+, with Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon reprising their roles as Galleria and Chanel. The story follows Galleria’s daughter, Faith, played by Leah Sava Jeffries, as she joins a new generation of Cheetah Girls. Filming began in July in Cape Town, South Africa, with the group volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary.
A Different World returns to Hillman College
Netflix’s A Different World sequel premieres Sept. 24, exactly 39 years after the original NBC sitcom debuted in 1987. Showrunner Felicia Pride leads the 10-episode season, with original director Debbie Allen returning behind the camera. Maleah Joi Moon stars as Deborah Wayne, daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, arriving at the historically Black college that shaped her parents.
The Burbs reboot powers Keke Palmer to season 2
Peacock’s The ‘Burbs, starring Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall, reimagines the 1989 Tom Hanks film as a suburban mystery series. Since its Feb. 8 premiere, the show has logged more than 1.7 billion streaming minutes, becoming Peacock’s biggest Day 1 original ever. The strong numbers earned it a Season 2 renewal in April.
Cross season 2 sends Aldis Hodge after a new killer
The Prime Video series Cross is not a reboot of a specific previous television show, but rather a completely new, serialized adaptation of James Patterson’s bestselling Alex Cross book series. It’s led by actor Aldis Hodge and returned for Season 2 on Feb. 11. The first season drew more than 40 million global viewers in its opening 20 days. This season follows Cross as he tracks a vigilante targeting corrupt billionaires.