Megan Cloherty, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Casting is under way for a new Disney Channel series that will have those who enjoyed ’90s TV reaching for a calendar.
The channel is planning a sequel to “Boy Meets World,” in which the next generation of Disney fans will follow the life of 13-year-old Riley, the daughter of the original series stars, Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence.
Disney already is casting the show, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Rumors have been leaking about the project for weeks, according to industry publications. But after the Thanksgiving holiday, more news came from the actors themselves.
Actors Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel, who played Cory and Topanga, confirmed they are returning to the small screen for the sequel. Savage tweeted about the project Monday.
I’m going to be a father! Well, on TV at least. The “Boy Meets World” sequel is officially happening!
— Ben Savage (@BenSavage) November 26, 2012
After a few attempts of tweeting out the wrong link, Danielle Fishel tweeted her tumblr blog about the project.
AHHH! I am technically challenged! @bensavage, not so impressed with my tech skills now, huh? 🙂 dfishel.tumblr.com
— Danielle Fishel (@daniellefishel) November 27, 2012
The pilot is in its “very early stages” and has “Boy Meets World” creator and executive producer Michael Jacobs leading the way, reports VLine.
Fans of the original series might wonder if all their favorite characters are coming back for “Girl Meets World.” The answer: We don’t know yet. Based on Disney’s casting descriptions, industry experts say there are no descriptions for Mr. Feeny, Cory’s best friend Shawn Hunter or his older brother Eric for the sequel.
But there is more detail about the Matthews family. Cory Matthews is a seventh-grade history teacher who is, of course, married to Topanga. They have two kids: 13-year-old Riley, the focus of the series, and her older brother Elliott.
There is also a casting description for Riley’s best friend Maya, whose character biography is similar to Cory’s friend Shawn in the original series.
The timeline, however, does not quite add up. As The Huffington Post points out, Cory and Topanga graduated in 1998 and the series ended in 2000.
One episode in the final season planted the rumor that Topanga might be pregnant, while another showed the cast in the future – in 2006 – shortly after the couple had a baby girl. But that math doesn’t quite add up to their daughter, Riley, being 13 years old.
Still, on TV, anything can happen.
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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
