“Hannah Montana” will keeping going on. Disney Channel has closed the deal for a fourth season of the series starring Miley Cyrus.
In addition, the cable channel has also ordered a second season of its new comedy series “Sonny With A Chance,” starring Demi Lovato, and has gotten Jeffrey Hornaday, the choreographer of movies such as “Flashdance” and “A Chorus Line,” to direct and choreograph the part 4 of “High School Musical” movies.
There has been questions whether Cyrus would return to the series that made her a world wide star. The teen actress-singer recently expressed her plans to continue her small-screen job as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana for one more year.
As a part of her deal, Cyrus will get a while to work on the feature “The Last Song,” while working on the fourth season of “Hannah Montana” scheduled to begin next year. Filming of the show’s third season end this week.
The series will change settings next season, during which the Stewarts will cope with saying goodbye to their beachfront Malibu home.
“That will provide the catalyst for wonderful new characters and further expand the storytelling opportunities,” said Gary Marsh, Disney Channel Worldwide president.
“Hannah Montana,” which also stars Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment and Jason Earles, draws an average of 4.4 million viewers per episode played.
A episode from 2007 of the show still ranks as the highest-rated basic cable series telecast ever with 10.7 million viewers in total.
“Hannah Montana” has brought in two double-platinum soundtracks, a No. 1 box-office movie, DVDs, a junior novel series, apparel, accessories, video games and a Miley Cyrus concert tour, which spawned a 3-D film version that became the No. 1 concert film of all time.
“Hannah Montana” was started by Michael Poryes, Rich Correll and Barry O’Brien.
Since “Sonny,” premiered in February, top lined by star Demi Lovato, has become TV’s top program for kids within the ages 6-11.