Summer is back in session, as Disney Channel prepares to get the band back together. Which one, you ask, and here’s the answer: Connect 3, the fictional band from the Camp Rock franchise that cemented the early careers of Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers.
The sibling trio, comprising Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas, will reprise their roles in Camp Rock 3, joining a new generation of stars. A snippet of the first single from the film, titled “One Beat Away,” was included in the latest teaser, which also features a nod to previous protagonist Mitchie Torres’ old songbook covered in dust and the announcement of a 13 August premiere.
Picking up before a major reunion tour for Connect 3, the threequel follows their return to Camp Rock after losing their opening act in search of the next big thing. “As campers vie for the chance to open for their favourite band, tensions rise, and friendships are tested — leading to unexpected alliances, revelations, and romances,” reads the official synopsis.
Liami Segura (Descendants: Wicked Wonderland) leads the fresh ensemble as Sage, with Hudson Stone (Desi), Malachi Barton (Fletch), Lumi Pollack (Rosie), Casey Trotter (Cliff), Brooklynn Pitts (Callie), and Ava Jean (Madison) rounding out the list. Alongside Joe’s Shane Gray, Nick’s Nate Gray, and Kevin’s Jason Gray, Maria Canals-Barrera is back as Connie, Mitchie’s mother.
The Jonas Brothers are executive producing Camp Rock 3 with Lovato, whose return as Mitchie has yet to be confirmed, Tim Federle, Betsy Sullenger, Spencer Berma, and Gary Marsh. Veronica serves as director, while Eydie Faye wrote the script. It comes 18 years after the first instalment, which centred on Mitchie’s visit to Camp Rock, a summer music camp, and racked up 8.9 million views on the night of its premiere. A sequel introducing a wealthy rival summer music camp, Camp Star, was released in 2010, setting the record for the highest-viewed cable television film that year.
Camp Rock 3 hits Disney Channel and Disney+ on 13 and 14 August, respectively.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
