In mid-2017, Zendaya revealed in an issue of New York Times that she returned to Disney Channel after Shake It Up (2010) because of a lack of diversity at the time. She also thought the idea of a girl doing a "guy role" was important.
Three of Zendaya's costars from Shake It Up (2010), Bella Thorne, Adam Irigoyen, and Anita Barone make appearances as antagonists.