I think we can all agree that there is a lot of new and diverse additions coming to Disney Channel’s slate this year. Recently, we have seen the network pick-up and even air a lot of different series and movies from “Mako Mermaids” to the upcoming “Hotel Transylvania” series based on the popular movie franchise of the same name.
Even though a bulk of the content on Disney Channel and even Disney XD is produced primarily in the United States. Disney Channels across the globe often also create their own original series. Often these series are inspired by said country’s culture or builds off native source material.
A great example of this is the “Violetta,” a telenovella musical series set in Buenos Aries, Argentina. Despite the series’ success in Latin America, Middle East, Africa and even Europe, the series has not aired on American or Canadian airwaves. (But luckily it did hit Netflix. The entire first season subbed and dubbed is up for streaming. Oh, and did we mention that Violetta’s English voice is none other than Christina Vee, voice of Marinette in “Miraculous?” The show has a fantastic English voice cast.)
Thankfully, this is not the case for the upcoming serialized drama series “The Lodge.” Here is the details from the press release as found on Kidscreen:
Disney EMEA serialized drama series The Lodge will premiere on Disney Channel in the UK and Canada on September 23, before making its US debut on October 17. Episodes will also be available for same-day viewing on the Disney Channel app and VOD platforms in the US.
Produced by Zodiak Kids Studios and filmed on location in Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland, the music-driven series will be seen in more than 100 countries by the end of the year.
The Lodge includes nine original songs, and music videos for “Believe That” and “Starting Over, Starting Now” are now available on Vevo. Additional music videos will bow on the platform beginning next month, and will also be presented in rotation on Disney Channel.
Inspired by the popular Disney Channel Israel series North Star, The Lodge stars 15-year-old Skye, who intends to save her family’s country hotel from being sold. It features emerging talent from across Europe including British actors Sophie Simnett and Jade Alleyne, as well as Scottish actor Thomas Doherty, who also stars in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 2.
One of the things that really sticks out in my mind is the setting of “The Lodge” is the fact that the series is placed in Ireland. So much content of every medium has a tendency to be set either in a fictional location or somewhere in America. Not by any means is either a bad thing, setting has to be coupled well with the story and characters. But it is always refreshing to explore other parts of the globe. Not only for the sake of having a chance of location, but also the direction the story takes.
I really do hope to get a chance to see “North Star” and compare and contrast with “The Lodge”.
“The Lodge” has been on my radar for a while now and the various clips that Disney Channel UK has posted on their YouTube account has me intrigued. There is a lot that can be done with the characters and story, so it will be exciting to see just how Skye’s tale unfolds.
With any luck, and assumed that “The Lodge” has high ratings, we will get to see some other international Disney Channel series find their way to North American fans’ screens.
Join the conversation: What do you make of all these new and acquired shows Disney has announced? Any speculation for what we might hear next?
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