Theodore Barnes, Shelby Simmons and Cynthia McWilliams have been set as leads with Gavin Lewis in Netflix’s multi-cam comedy, The Prince of Peoria.

The show is said to be in a similar vein of Coming to America, but for a younger demographic. When Emil (Lewis), a 13-year-old prince from a wealthy island kingdom, travels to the U.S. to live incognito as an exchange student, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Teddy (Barnes), a fastidious, overachieving boy who is Emil’s total opposite.”

Character descriptions:

Barnes’ Teddy is a fastidious 13-year-old who dreams of one day getting into the prestigious MIT Robotics Program.

Simmons plays Sydney. The daughter of two professors, Sydney is a straight-A student and the first chair violinist in the school orchestra, but secretly has a bit of a wild side.

McWilliams portrays Regina, Teddy’s fun-loving mom, who thinks her son takes himself way too seriously and would do anything to help him make friends.

Nick Stanton and Devin Bunje are showrunners.

Barnes starred in Nickelodeon’s brief sitcom, Legendary Dudas. Simmons had a recurring stint on Disney Channel’s Andi Mack.

McWilliams has been in several TV series and films over the years, most notably starring as Trina Shaw in The Real Husbands of Hollywood on BET from 2013-2016.

Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, who is Kerry Washington’s former producing partner at Simpson Street and was named president of production Tim Story’s The Story Company in November, will executive produce.

Cynthia McWilliams

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