Disney Orders Two New Live-Action Comedies

Disney Branded Television has greenlit How We Became the Biggest Band in the World (w.t.) and Vampirina (w.t.), two music-driven, live-action comedies set to premiere next year on Disney Channel and Disney+.

Vampirina follows a tween vampire girl who leaves Transylvania to live among humans and pursue her passion for music. The series is based on the books written by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by LeUyen Pham and is inspired by the Disney Jr. animated series Vampirina from Chris Nee.

The series stars newcomer Kenzi Richardson, Jiwon Lee (Rise Up, Sing Out), Shaun Dixon (The Neighborhood), Milo Maharlika (Les Miserables Broadway National Tour) and newcomer Faith Hedley. Randi Barnes serves as showrunner and executive producer. Tim Federle and Bronwyn North-Reist are executive producers. Kimberly McCullough directed and executive produced the pilot.

How We Became the Biggest Band in the World follows three members of a mega-famous pop group as they tell the story of their band and friendship, starting with the day they all met in middle school.

The series stars Lumi Pollack (The Fallout), Nathaniel Buescher (Circuit Breakers) and newcomers Carmen Sanchez and Ruby Marino. Eric Friedman serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside writers and executive producers Alex Fox and Rachel Lewis. Diane Warren and Bahareh Batmang are executive producers, and Warren wrote the songs in the pilot. Jody Hahn directed and executive-produced the pilot.

“How We Became the Biggest Band in the World and Vampirina are two standout additions to Disney Channel’s comedy slate,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television. “Both new series are full of all the elements we know our young audiences love: relatable, aspirational characters, upbeat music and plenty of laughter, friendship and heart.”