Let’s face it, we live in the golden age of reboots, an era when beloved shows from the past are reimagined for the present. One of the latest shows to get the reboot treatment is Rebelde, the beloved Mexican telenovela that ran from 2004 to 2006. If you are a fan of the original Rebelde and can’t stand the thought of it being remade, remember that the original Rebelde is not actually the original original, but instead an adaptation of Rebelde Way, an Argentine telenovela. Proof that sometimes remakes, reboots, or whatever you want to call them end up being great, especially if the casting is done right.
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Speaking of casting: Are you wondering who is going to be in the new version of Rebelde and if any of the actors will be reprising their roles from back in the day? Well, we’ve got that info and more for you. Just know that while the reboot still takes place at the prestigious Elite Way School, there is a whole new cast of student characters to fall in love with—or love to hate, as the case may be. Also, it’s OK, if you are more than a little excited about a teen musical drama even if you aren’t a teen.
What platform is producing and streaming the reboot?
The Rebelde reboot is being produced by Netflix. The streaming platform shared a short video clip on March 1 with messaging in both English and Spanish. The English version reads: “Rebelde is coming back! In 2022, head back to Elite Way School as a new generation of students hope to win the Battle of the Bands.” The Spanish version says, “Así es, una nueva generación de 'Rebelde' llega a Netflix en 2022.”
That we know of, only Estefanía Villarreal is reprising her role.
From the original cast of the show, so far, only Estefanía Villareal is reprising her role as Celina Ferrer. This time around Celina Ferrer is the principal of Elite Way School. Way to go, Celina!
As the principal, Celina wrote a letter to welcome the new EWS students.
The letter, written in Spanish, roughly translates to:
"Welcome to Elite Way School!
EWS is renowned for the excellence of its illustrious student body, young people ready to dazzle the world. In these halls, we have shaped icons who have gone on to entertain millions with their talent, and our classrooms have seen stars pass on their way to their next stage.
Today, our Board of Directors is proud to present the next generation of young people who will become part of our prestigious institution in the upcoming 2022 school year.
We welcome out future students Azul Guaita, Sergio Mayer Mori, Andrea Chaparro, Jeronimo Cantillo, Franco Masini, Lizeth Selene, Alejandro Puente and Giovanna Grigio, who have been selected from a very impressive list of applicants.
The new students will start wearing the EWS uniform during orientation, which will start on March 1 of this year, thus preparing themselves for the upcoming 2022 school year at this institution, always committed to educating the leaders of tomorrow."
Meet Azul Guaita.
Azul is a Mexican actress and model born on July 21, 2001. She's been acting since she was a little girl. She has appeared in series and movies that include La Negociadora, Mi marido tiene familia, and Soltero con hijas.
Meet Sergio Mayer Mori.
Sergio is a Mexican actor and singer born on February 7, 1998. His parents are actors Bárbara Mori and Sergio Mayer. He's been seen in Un padre no tan padre, Viento en contra, and has a rather large Instagram following. He's also managed to stir up some Rebelde-related controversy. More on that shortly.
Meet Andrea Chapparro.
Andrea is the daughter of the Mexican actor, comic, and TV personality Omar Chaparro. She performed in theater productions such as Mary Poppins. She also joined the cast of the Netflix series House of Flowers.
Meet Jerónimo Cantillo.
Jerónimo is a Colombian musician and actor. He's been on productions such as Verdad oculta, Los Morales, and Tormenta de amor. His acting skills and musical talents make him a great fit for the Rebelde reboot.
Meet Lizeth Selene.
When the Mexican musician from Acapulco shared that she would be joining the cast of Rebelde via Instagram, she wrote: "One day you are in the barrio dreaming of being someone and the next day recording a series." Rebelde will be her first acting project.
Meet Franco Masini.
Franco was born on May 22, 1994 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has recorded albums and has acting credits in theater, television, and movies. He's also been on the TV series Riviera, which stars Julia Stiles.
Meet Giovanna Grigio.
The actress, singer, and model was born on January 19, 1998 in Mauá, State of São Paulo, Brazil. She's been acting ever since she was a little girl. Her movie credits include Eu Fico Loko, Cinderela Pop, É Natal, and Mallandro! Rebelde will be her first Mexican production.
Meet Alejandro Puente.
The Mexican actor, composer, and director is perhaps best know for his role in the Netflix series The Club. He was also in the Mexican theater production of Dead Poet's Society where he performed with original Rebelde cast member Alfonso Herrera.
It's worth mentioning that one of the new cast members is not a fan of RBD.
RBD, the band in Rebelde actually became a successful band in its own right. Even after the show ended, the actors from the telenovela kept performing as RBD in real life and their songs and albums made them one of the top Latin bands. In 2020, RBD even reunited for a virtual concert and fans were so there for it. But apparently, one of the cast members of the reboot is not a fan of their music even though he's going to have to perform it. Guess who it is?
It's Sergio Mayer Mori who is not a fan of RBD.
He said on video: "There are a lot of RBD [songs] coming but I'm going to tell you something. Yes, I am doing the project. Yes, I have to sing them because I have to sing them by contract. But I hate RBD, it is the reality. I don't like the songs, I never saw this thing."
Sergio's girlfriend defended him on the same video.
His girlfriend Raquel Chávez, perhaps anticipating that Sergio would get backlash for not like RBD, defended him on the same video. "Honestly, I really did see Rebelde," she said. "I went to a concert they did in Cancun. I loved it. But Sergio never saw them, he never liked them and that can be respected. He is doing the project because it is a great opportunity."
Regardless of what Sergio thinks, RBD still has tons of fans.
It will be interesting to see if the Rebelde reboot will also lead to a real-life incarnation of a band that performs and tours the world. We'll all just have to wait and see what happens. For now, RBD fans can still listen to their tunes.
