BOAT ROCKER STUDIOS ANNOUNCES ‘THE NEXT STEP: CHEER’, A HIGH-FLYING NEW SPIN-OFF OF ITS HIT TWEEN DANCE DRAMA
TORONTO, ON – October 3, 2025 – Boat Rocker Studios, the award-winning, independent global entertainment company, is thrilled to announce production is underway on its new live-action kids & family series, The Next Step: Cheer (20 x 24’). Commissioned by CBBC/BBC iPlayer in the UK, this spin-off of the tween sensation The Next Step takes audiences inside the exciting world of competitive cheerleading.
The Next Step: Cheer is a true crossover, inviting fans of the long-running scripted dance drama to get to know a new sport, new compelling storylines and new characters – with a few familiar faces hitting the mat, too.
When the Comets’ legendary coach leaves for a rival cheer team, The Next Step’s Kenzie (Emmerly Tinglin) steps in to take her place. But with so many of the Comets’ star athletes leaving with their coach, Kenzie must fill out the team’s roster and recruit enough new talent to build a winning squad from scratch.
“Fans around the world have fallen in love with the world of dance through The Next Step franchise, and we’re excited to expand the universe with Cheer. We know audiences are going to love this team – and be amazed by their athleticism and choreography,” said Jon Rutherford, President, Global Rights, Franchise & Content Strategy, Boat Rocker Studios.
Nick Nantell, EVP, Head of Scripted Creative, Boat Rocker Studios, added: “This is an exciting and energetic new series that we know will connect with fans of The Next Step and new viewers alike. We can’t wait for audiences to meet the Comets.”
In addition to Kenzie, The Next Step’s Heath (Carter Musselman) and Olive (Hattie Kragten) will join the cheer team, with the squad rounded out by Jordan (Neo Brunton), Cammy (Malia V.J. Tinglin), Melody (Elya Wardini), Layla (Gabriela Francis), Jax (Jai Ashton Benjamin), Ruby (Chiara DiBerto), Levi (Matteo Sanchez), Ashton (Adam Raikou), Angel (Samara Marion Kabat), and Damian (Kostyn Mitruk).
The Next Step: Cheer was developed by Courtney Jane Walker (Holly Hobbie) and Matt Huether (Degrassi: Next Class), who serve as showrunners and executive producers. It is based on the television series The Next Step, created by Frank Van Keeken (Lost and Found Music Studios, Wingin’ It). The series is executive produced by Boat Rocker Studios’ David Fortier (Bet, Mix Tape), Ivan Schneeberg (Beacon 23, American Rust), Nick Nantell (Video Nasty, Beacon 23) and Jon Rutherford (Bet, Dino Ranch), as well as Amy Wright (The Next Step).
The series was commissioned for CBBC by Sarah Muller, Senior Head of BBC Children’s Commissioning 7+ and the Commissioning Editor is Aubrey Clarke.
The Next Step: Cheer is produced and distributed globally by Boat Rocker Studios. Boat Rocker manages the global franchise development and consumer products for The Next Step and The Next Step: Cheer.
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About BBC Children’s & Education
BBC Children’s & Education’s unique public service provision gives kids an understanding of their nation and the world beyond. Its significant annual investment for the audience underpins the entire UK children’s sector, in the face of retreat by other providers. Not only delivering high quality, culturally relevant entertainment but also educating the nations young people.
About Boat Rocker Studios
An independent, integrated global entertainment company, Boat Rocker Studios’ mission is to tell stories and build iconic brands across all genres and media. With offices around the world, Boat Rocker brings end-to-end creative expertise, robust business operations, and global franchise capabilities across Scripted, Unscripted, Documentary, and Kids & Family content. Its services span production, distribution, and brand & franchise management. In partnership with Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker develops, produces, and exploits Industrial Brothers' innovative and original animated series for preschool and family audiences. A selection of Boat Rocker’s projects includes Invasion (Apple TV+), Palm Royale (Apple TV+), Mix Tape (BBC, Binge, RTE), Video Nasty (BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Three, Virgin Media One, WDR), This Is the Tom Green Documentary (Prime Video), Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC), American Rust: Broken Justice (Prime Video), Beacon 23 (MGM+), Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (Hulu), Downey’s Dream Cars (Max), BS High (HBO), Orphan Black (BBC AMERICA, CTV Sci-Fi Channel), Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (Apple TV+), The Next Step (BBC, Corus, CBC), Daniel Spellbound (Netflix), Dino Ranch (Disney+, Disney Junior, CBC), and Dino Ranch: Island Explorers (Amazon Kids+, CBC, Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA).For more information, please visit www.boatrocker.com.
For further information contact:
Regan Reid
Director, Communications, Boat Rocker Studios