Disney Channel Orders 'Girl Meets World' to Series

[Via thewrap.com...]

The "Boy Meets World" spinoff will debut in 2014

Thirteen years after ABC's coming of age comedy, "Boy Meets World," signed off in 2000, it's getting a spinoff.

Disney Channel announced on Monday that it has officially ordered the "Girl Meets World" pilot to series. The youth cable network has yet to determine the amount of episodes for the order, though production on the comedy begins this summer for a 2014 debut.

"'Boy Meets World' and its story of adolescent self discovery resonated with an entire generation of tweens," Disney Channel Worldwide's original programming executive vice president, Adam Bonnett, said in a statement.

"In the same way audiences fell in love with Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence, we look forward to introducing our viewers to their daughter Riley Matthews in 'Girl Meets World' and building a memorable connection with a whole new generation of fans."

Eleven-year-old "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World 4D" star Rowan Blanchard will play the titular "girl" with Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel reprising their roles as childhood sweethearts Cory and Topanga, relatively.

On the spinoff set in New York City, Cory and Topanga Matthews' daughter, Riley (Blanchard), takes on seventh grade with best friend, Maya ("Sofia the First" star Sabrina Carpenter). Cory is a history teacher at the school while Topanga owns a diner, a popular after school hangout.

"I am grateful to everyone at Disney Channel for the opportunity to reach my favorite audience, which has always been kids," Michael Jacobs, who created "Boy Meets World" and its spinoff, said.

"'Girl Meets World' is a new show for a new generation that will be rooted in the same kind of honest, comedic storytelling about coming of age and the importance of family and friendship that made 'Boy Meets World' so popular."

"Boy Meets World" writer/producer April Kelly co-created the spinoff with Jacobs, who will executive produce the It's a Laugh Productions Inc. multi-camera series.

On the pilot, Teo Halm plays Riley's older brother Elliott; Peyton Meyer plays a romantic interest for Riley; Corey Fogelmanis is a smart fellow student; and William Daniels reprises his role of Mr. Feeney, school principal and later a college professor on the original series. Disney Channel didn't confirm if the actors would move on with the series.

Jacobs has said there's a good chance that Rider Strong will reprise his role as Cory's best friend, Shawn Hunter, the only character to appear on every episode of "Boy Meets World" aside from Cory and Topanga.

Girl Meets World Begins Filming March 20 - March 22

Girl Meets World began filming for the very first time from March 20 till March 22. Ben Savage, who reprises his role as Cory Matthews in the upcoming Disney Channel series, which is a sequel to Disney's popular sitcom Boy Meets World, tweeted on his official twitter page (@BenSavage) the day before filming (March 21) a behind the scenes photo of the Girl Meets World set with the caption:

Almost showtime http://instagr.am/p/XEHs1Am1v3/

Additionally throughout the filming days Ben Savage tweeted: 

On the set http://instagram.com/p/XJFVDmm1mz/

And:

My first class http://instagram.com/p/XK45mam1t-/

                                     

The newly cast Cast Members for Girl Meets World also contributed to sharing the news, with Rowan Blanchard, who plays Riley Matthews, the daughter of Cory and Topanga tweeting on her official twitter page (@rowblanchard):

#girlmeetsworld http://instagr.am/p/XICjDdpdfY/

                                     

And: 

Last day of filming :(

Also:

That's a wrap! 😭 bensavage http://instagram.com/p/XLi6rUpdV5/

Teo Halm, who plays Cory and Topanga’s son, Elliott tweeted on his official twitter page (TeoHalm): 

THAT'S A WRAP! Had so much filming #gmw with @SabrinaAnnLynn @rowblanchard @BenSavage @peytonmeyer9 @coreyfogelmanis and @daniellefishel. 😄

And:

The fam. @rowblanchard @daniellefishel @sabrinaannlynn bensavage http://instagram.com/p/XLkTaMPmHc/

                                      

Exclusive Girl Meets World Casting News: Meet Cory and Topanga’s Son Elliott!

[Via tvline.com...]

Hey girl, meet your older bro!

TVLine has learned exclusively that relative newcomer Teo Halm is joining Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World pilot as Cory and Topanga’s son, Elliott.

As we previously reported, Rowan Blanchard will play Halm’s onscreen sis and the prospective series’ title character, Riley.

The Boy Meets World spin-off — which picks up more than a decade after ABC’s TGIF staple went off the air — secured leads Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel in November. In a Tumblr post written soon after she signed onto the pilot, Fishel assured Boy‘s loyal (and — judging by social media — super-jazzed) fans that the new sitcom would share “familiar faces, familiar themes and familiar messages” with the original.

It also shares a key behind-the-scenes player: Boy Meets World creator and executive producer Michael Jacobs is in charge of the pilot, which begins production later this month for consideration on Disney Channel’s 2013-14 schedule. Sitcom vet John Whitesell (Roseanne, Cosby Show) is set to direct.