‘Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies’ Names Cast As Production Begins

“Grease” is coming back, but fans shouldn’t expect to see familiar faces in the upcoming series.

Production on the prequel series based on the hit 1978 musical that starred Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta has officially begun. As an origin series, “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” will be set four years prior to the original film’s setting, the New York Post reported.

The 10-episode series from Paramount+ will take viewers and fans back to Rydell High, but they will see different faces since the class of 1954 will be the one to lead the show.

The cast list for the series has been revealed on Twitter yearbook-style, and it mostly comprises newcomers in the showbiz industry. Marisa Davila will play Jane, while Cheyenne Isabel Wells will be Olivia. Ari Notartomaso, Tricia Fukuhara and Shanel Bailey will play Cynthia, Nancy and Hazel, respectively. Meanwhile, Madison Thompson will portray Susan.

The summary for the spinoff did not reveal much about the characters, but it mentioned “four fed-up outcasts” — presumably the founders of the Pink Ladies— daring to have fun on their terms on the Rydell High campus, and this would change the school’s atmosphere forever, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Joining the ladies are Johnathan Nieves as Richie, Jason Schmidt as Buddy and Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally. Jackie Hoffman will also have an important role on the show as Assistant Principal McGee.

“We are thrilled to unveil our new original series that will introduce an incredible cast of young stars in the making and electrifying musical numbers you will fall in love with,” Paramount Television Studios head and Paramount+ original scripted series president Nicole Clemens said in a statement.

Alethea Jones will direct the pilot and two more episodes, and she will also serve as executive producer. Annabel Oakes, who wrote the show, will serve as showrunner, as per Collider.

“Annabel and Alethea have managed to brilliantly capture the spirit of the iconic beloved classic film which like ‘Rise of the Pink Ladies,’ is both set in the past but relevant to the present,” Clemens noted.

While the official release date of the series has not been revealed, it’s already confirmed that the show will be heading to the subscription service later this year. Filming is underway in Vancouver.