Disney Channel has ordered new series “Stuck In the Middle,” starring “Jane the Virgin’s” Jenna Ortega, Variety has learned exclusively. The comedy is slated to debut in spring 2016 with production beginning this November.
The family sitcom marks a move toward Latino-targeted programming for the kids’ cabler. The single-cam series is centered around the Diaz family, and is told from the perspective of the middle child, Harley, played by Ortega, whom Disney Channel is grooming to be their next big star.
Ortega’s character is an engineering whiz who uses her inventions to navigate life as the middle child in a large family of seven kids. Harley’s overlooked status proves to be both a blessing and a curse, as she maneuvers her way through the everyday antics that come with being part of a big family.
The siblings are played by a mish-mosh of familiar Disney faces and newbies to the network. Ronni Hawk will play Rachel; Kayla Maisonet (“Dog With A Blog”) as Georgie; Isaak Presley (“Austin & Ally”) as Grant; Nicolas Bechtel (“General Hospital”) as Danny; Malachi Barton (“Best Friends Whenever”) as Beast; and Ariana Greenblatt (“Liv and Maddie”) as Daphne.
“Stuck In the Middle” is exec produced by Linda Videtti Figueiredo (“Rules of Engagement,” “Last Man Standing”) who will also serve as showrunner. The pilot, which was picked up this past February, was co-penned by Figueiredo and Alison Brown (“Dog With A Blog”) with a story by Brown.
