DISNEY CHANNEL SET TO BEGIN PRODUCTION ON "TEEN BEACH MOVIE 2," THE SEQUEL TO THE HIT DISNEY CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE

-- Ross Lynch, Maia Mitchell, Grace Phipps, Garrett Clayton and John DeLuca to Reprise Starring Roles --

Disney Channel will begin production in July on "Teen Beach Movie 2," the sequel to last summer's "Teen Beach Movie," a Disney Channel Original Movie that ranks as cable TV's all-time #2 movie in Total Viewers. Ross Lynch ("Austin & Ally" and Hollywood Records' R5), Maia Mitchell ("The Fosters"), Grace Phipps ("Baby Daddy"), Garrett Clayton ("The Fosters") and John DeLuca ("Twisted") will reprise their starring roles as Brady, McKenzie, Lela, Tanner and Butchy, respectively. Additional casting will be announced shortly. "Teen Beach Movie 2" will premiere in 2015 on Disney Channel.

The cast was reunited Saturday, April 26 at the Radio Disney Music Awards where the announcement was made during "ARDY's Pre-Show Party," which is now available on WATCH Disney Channel.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, "The audience response to the first 'Teen Beach Movie' was overwhelming. We are thrilled to have the cast back for a new music-driven saga that continues this fantastical story."

The sequel is set months after surfer sweethearts McKenzie ("Mack") and Brady return from a summer adventure that transported them into Brady's favorite 1960s beach party movie, Wet Side Story, only to receive a surprise real-world visit from Lela, Tanner, Butchy and their other newfound surfer and biker buddies.

The writers of "Teen Beach Movie 2" are Robert Horn ("Teen Beach Movie" teleplay, writer of "Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure," writer/producer of "Designing Women"), Dan Berendsen (ABC Family's "Baby Daddy," Disney's "Hannah Montana The Movie" and "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie"), and Matt & Billy Eddy ("Zapped"). "Teen Beach Movie 2" is executive-produced by Michelle Manning (producer of "The Breakfast Club," "Jenny's Wedding") and David Buelow ("Teen Beach Movie," "Bring It On: Fight to the Finish"). "Teen Beach Movie" director and choreographer Jeffrey Hornaday (choreographer of "A Chorus Line," "Flashdance") will direct the sequel.

In Total Viewers, five of the Top six movies in cable TV history are Disney Channel Original Movies. That franchise has also delivered the #1 TV movie telecast among Tweens for 12-consecutive years. "Teen Beach Movie" is the #2 movie in cable TV history in Total Viewers (13.53 million) and the #2 TV telecast of all time across Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14.

The "Teen Beach Movie" soundtrack (Walt Disney Records) peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 Album chart and #1 on Billboard's Soundtrack chart. The album also fast tracked its way to #1 on the iTunes Soundtrack chart and was #3 on the Album Overall chart. Six songs ranked in the Top 15 on the iTunes Singles chart, including "Cruisin' For A Bruisin'," "Falling For Ya," "Like Me," "Can't Stop Singing," "Surf's Up," "Surf Crazy," "Meant to Be," and "Oxygen."

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family-inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

Follow @DisneyChannelPR for up-to-date news on #TeenBeachMovie2.

[Source: NTI, as dated. U.S. ratings, Live + 7 and Live + Same Day. Movie ranker excludes mini-series.]