Were you a young person from 1993-2000? An adolescent or a child, who followed the trials and tribulations of Cory, Topanga, Mr. Feeny, and Shawn from childhood through adolescence, high school and beyond? You were? Then this news is pretty much for you. The sequel of sorts to Boy Meets World (what’s a sequel to a TV series?), handily titled Girl Meets World, that Disney Channel announced not too long ago has found its star in 11 year-old Rowan Blanchard.
Who? You might well ask. Rowan Blanchard is the little girl in Spy Kids: All The Time In The World. Yeah, I didn’t see it either. But this isn’t about me. It’s about the fact that there’s going to be a whole new TV series that follows Cory and Topanga Matthews and their two children, Riley (Blanchard) and 14 year-old son Elliot.
The series centers around the Matthews many years on: Cory has become a seventh-grade history teacher, much like Mr. Feeny from the original series. With both Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel back for the series, would it be too much to hope for perhaps Rider Strong (Shawn) and even William Daniels (Mr. Feeny) himself? My cup runneth over.
I really do give some props to Disney. The whole idea is inspired. You’ve got a ready-made audience in just about anyone who was a child of the 90s, plus all the tiny tykes of today who watch the Disney Channel like we used to watch Nickelodeon. The official character description of Riley is pretty damned banal – “There’s no obstacle in this girl’s world that can dampen her bright spirit and eternal optimism” – but there’s fodder for some good times in the projected series.
Girl Meets World is being developed by Michael Jacobs, the original creator and executive producer of Boy Meets World. The pilot will begin filming next month.
What do you think of a TV sequel to Boy Meets World? Does Blanchard look like she can carry Girl Meets World, or will this just be nostalgia time for 90s kids? Let us know in the comments below.
