The Mickey Mouse Club is making a return. According to Deadline, Disney+ has ordered pilot for a reboot of the iconic variety series that helped launch the careers of stars like Britney Spears (Crossroads, How I Met Your Mother), Justin Timberlake (The Social Network, Trolls), Christina Aguilera (Burlesque, The Emoji Movie), Ryan Gosling (La La Land, Barbie), and Keri Russell (Felicity, The Americans).
Deadline notes the new project comes from Fulwell Entertainment, the production company behind Hulu’s The Kardashians. Production on the pilot is scheduled to begin this month in Los Angeles.
Disney described the reboot as “a showcase for today’s most talented young performers, where music, innovation, and self-expression take center stage.” The pilot will introduce a new generation of Mouseketeers, featuring Casey Trotter (The Thundermans: Undercover, The Worst of Us).
Alongside them are Hudson Stone and Brooklynn Pitts, the two having their first on-screen debut in Disney’s upcoming Camp Rock 3. The cast also includes Erianthe Akaata (Young Rock, The Convert), Scarlett London Diviney (The Lion King, Matilda the Musical), Michael Cash (Black Rabbit, Law & Order), and Yonas Kibreab (Elio, Sweet Tooth).
The series is executive produced by Ben Winston (The Late Late Show with James Corden, An Audience with Adele) and Ashley Edens (Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, The Late Late Show with James Corden). Winston will also serve as the project’s creative director.
Created by Walt Disney, The Mickey Mouse Club first began as a stage show in the 1920s before premiering as a television series on ABC from 1955 to 1959. The program returned in syndication from 1977 to 1979 before receiving its most recognizable revival on Disney Channel in 1989. That 1989 version introduced several performers who later became major stars.
The franchise most recently returned in 2017 as Club Mickey Mouse, a digital-first revival released on platforms including Facebook and Instagram. Now, with Disney+ developing a new pilot, the company is once again hoping to introduce the next generation of young performers through one of its most recognizable brands.