The success of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder has proven that you don’t need to radically reinvent something to bring it back. Louder and Prouder was not a reboot with a completely new cast, crew, and art style, but simply more of what was produced 20 years prior. And it worked for Disney+; they’ve held onto it far longer than most of their other originals.
“Season 4 finds the Proud family at a life-changing turning point,” Disney teases. “Penny Proud is pulled into a series of unexpected adventures that test her courage and identity. With more action-packed, mind-bending and heartfelt twists than ever before, the Prouds face every new challenge head-on, proving that no matter how chaotic life gets, they’re strongest when they face it together.”
This final season will include the usual truckload of guest stars including Mariah Carey, Romany Malco (A Million Little Things), Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish), Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), sports radio personality Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo, Kym Whitley (The Bay), French DJ/rapper/producer Dee Nasty, Adele Givens (The Hughleys), Ali Wong (Tuca & Bertie), JB Smoove (Mapleworth Murders) and Lashana Lynch (Still Star-Crossed). Anthony Anderson (Ray Ray) and Tiffany Haddish (Ms. Hill) also count as guest stars even though they are reprising recurring characters.
Plus you can still count on the same regulars: Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, JoMarie Payton as Suga Mama, Cedric the Entertainer as Uncle Bobby, Karen Malina White as Dijonay Jones, Soleil Moon Frye as Zoey Howzer, Alisa Reyes as LaCienega Boulevardez, Carlos Mencia as Felix Boulevardez, Alvaro Gutierrez as Papi, Raquel Lee Bolleau as Nubia Gross, Marcus T. Paulk as Myron, and Melissa De Sousa as Sunset Boulevardez.
And when the credits roll on the final episode…that’s not it. The Prouds will return one final time, at least for now, in a holiday special to be released months later. A Proud Family Wizmas is a stop-motion musical produced by Smith and Farquhar and animated by “Portland-based stop-motion studio HouseSpecial”…do they mean Portland MAINE? If this outfit is local to me I’ve never heard of it.
There is no trailer available for either the new season or the special, but there are screenshots. Here’s what the special looks like:
To those who think it’s too out-there for Penny to meet Santa Claus and take his place, let’s remember that Penny has also met Lilo and Stitch, and that pair have BEEN places. (Note: we cannot confirm whether Mariah Carey is in the season or the special. You’d think the special would make more sense but…sense and business do not often work together.)
The final season of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder debuts July 29 on Disney+; the exact date for the premiere of A Proud Family Wizmas has not been revealed.
