PRODUCTION BEGINS ON FIRST DISNEY JUNIOR ORIGINAL TV MOVIE, THE ANIMATED "LUCKY DUCK," SLATED TO PREMIERE SUMMER 2014

Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Tom Cavanaugh Voice Lively Tub Toys

Production has begun on the first Disney Junior Original Movie, "Lucky Duck," a music-filled, animated adventure at sea starring the voices of Christian Borle and Megan Hilty (both of "Smash"), and Tom Cavanaugh ("Royal Pains"). The movie follows a plucky rubber ducky named Lucky (Borle) who, after accidentally being tossed off a cargo ship, sets off in search of the perfect home. Along the way, he teams with a group of misfit tub toys including a sassy hippo, Flo (Hilty) and an apprehensive turtle named Snap (Cavanaugh). The movie is slated to premiere in summer 2014 on Disney Junior in the U.S. and thereafter on Disney Junior channels around the world. The announcement was made today by Joe D'Ambrosia, Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Junior.

D'Ambrosia said, "We're eager to introduce young kids and their parents to our first Disney Junior Original Movie, an exciting adventure with a heart-warming message about never giving up, despite all odds. We hope that this new TV movie format will create an even stronger family viewing destination to further deliver on our brand promise of imaginative characters and storytelling with heart."

The movie opens in a toy factory where Lucky and a menagerie of other tub toys are going through inspection. After being rejected for a broken squeaker, Lucky fortuitously winds up in a shipping crate with approved toys - and thus begins a touching adventure that leads him to new, lifelong friends who love him just the way he is.

"Lucky Duck" is directed by Don Kim ("The Adventures of Chuck and Friends") and written by WGA Award-winner Michael G. Stern ("Imagination Movers"). Executive producers are Nelvana Studio's Irene Weibel and Colin Bohm ("Mike the Knight"). The composers are Rick Garcia and William Malpede ("Rango"). "Lucky Duck" is a production of Nelvana Studio in association with Disney Junior.

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior's series blend Disney's unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. In the U.S., Disney Junior is a daily programming block on Disney Channel and a 24-hour channel. 2013 to-date, Disney Junior series are the Top 4 cable TV series in Kids 2-5 and Total Viewers. There are 33 Disney Junior channels in 24 languages around the world.