Disney Begins Production on Original Movie HOW TO BUILD A BETTER BOY

Disney Channel taps into a three-dimensional "geek chic" comedy adventure with "How to Build a Better Boy," a present day take on a futuristic story starring Disney Channel star China Anne McClain ("A.N.T. Farm") and Disney XD star Kelli Berglund ("Lab Rats"). Set in Washington, DC, the storyline follows high school sophomores Mae Hartley (Berglund) and Gabby Harrison (McClain), two tech-savvy best friends who devise a plan to create the perfect boyfriend with just a few strokes of the keyboard and a wireless connection. What Gabby and Mae don't realize is that the computer they use is set up to generate a robotic super soldier, which they have inadvertently activated in the form of Albert, a macho yet sensitive super cute boy.

Production has begun in Toronto, Canada for a premiere in 2014. The movie is directed by three-time DGA Award winner Paul Hoen ("Let It Shine," "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam"), executive produced by Robin Schorr ("Food, Inc.," "The Pretty One") and Adam Kossack, co-executive produced by Dan Seligmann and written by Jason Mayland ("Space Chimps").

In addition to McClain and Berglund, the movie stars newcomer Marshall Williams (contestant in "Canadian Idol") as Albert Banks, Noah Centineo ("Austin & Ally") as Jaden Stark, Ashley Argota ("True Jackson, VP") as Nevaeh Barnes, Matt Shively ("True Jackson, VP") as Bart Hartley and Roger Bart ("Revenge") as James Hartley.

The ratings force known as the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise accounts for the top two cable TV movies of all time in Total Viewers with "High School Musical 2" and "Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie," and four of the top six overall. In fact, "High School Musical 2" is still the No. 1 scripted cable TV telecast in Total Viewers ever (18.6 million), while its latest hit, "Teen Beach Movie" (11.9 million), handily broke into the top five movies in cable TV history based on L+3 ratings. Moreover, as of 2012 the franchise has created the No. 1 original movie telecast among Tweens 9-14 for 11 consecutive years and the No. 1 cable TV movie in five of the past six years.

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 and satellite in nearly 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.

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