The AMADA sitcom Life with Derek returns after more than a decade off the air.
Fans were left in shock after the stars of the original series revealed that a new spin-off movie, Life with Luca, is on the way.
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The Canadian series, which premiered on the Disney Channel in the United States, ran in the late 2000s for four seasons.
It followed A-type teenager Casey (Ashley Leggat) as she had to learn to live with the titular Derek (Michael Seater), who is the same age but just the opposite, after her parents got married.
On Wednesday, Ashley surprised fans by revealing that not only was a spin-off on the way, but it had actually already been filmed.
He shared a large number of photos from the set and announced in the caption, “We’re back!!! I had the time of my life filming Life with Luca.
“I can’t wait for you all to see what Derek & Casey have been up to for the last 15 years.”
The first photo Ashley shared was a sweet photo of her and co-star Michael cuddling up in a car, showing fans that their real-life friendship is still very much alive.
Other snapshots featured a few more original stars, as well as new actors who have joined the cast of the franchise.
One happy fan wrote: “PAUSE this was the last show I expected to get a reboot in any way.”
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A second overwhelmed fan wrote: “SOMEONE HUG ME TIGHT BECAUSE I MIGHT PASS OUT!!!”
Another excited social media user tweeted: “Screaming, crying and throwing up.”
Ashley’s tweet about the reunion movie has racked up over 1,000 retweets just hours after she posted it.
Along with Casey’s mother, Nora (Joy Tanner), and Derek’s father, George (John Ralston), the combined family in the original also consisted of Casey’s sister, Lizzie (Jordan Todosey), and Casey’s brothers. Derek, Edwin (Daniel Magder). and Marti (Ariel Waller).
After the show ended, a first sequel, Vacation with Derek (2010), was released, and saw the family welcome another member of their group, Nora and George’s son Simon.
It’s been over 10 years since the show ended, but fans have never stopped sharing their love for the series over the years.
This was largely due to the chemistry and banter between Ashley and Michael’s characters.
Casey and Derek’s relationship led to a fandom (nation) of Dasey shippers, those who couldn’t help but think their feelings for each other were more than family or friendly.
Not only are Ashley and Michael reprising their roles for the film, but a few other familiar faces will appear as well.
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According to their social media, Joy is back as Casey’s mom, Nora, and John is back as Derek’s dad, George, in Life with Luca.
Joy shared a photo of a family reunion of the four main stars together, smiling and jumping for joy.
“It’s official! #lifewithluca the #movie,” he captioned the image.
Meanwhile, John posted a snapshot of him and Joy standing next to each other, writing with her: “I see, I see. . . seventeen years later. . . a couple of cool cats (who age very gracefully, I might add), on a film set once again: something old, something new?
While it has yet to be revealed if any other members of the McDonald-Venturi family will be returning, there is one more original star who is confirmed for the film.
Kit Weyman is reprising his role as Derek’s best friend and Casey’s ex-boyfriend Sam, a representative from Shaftesbury, the production company behind the film, confirmed to The Sun.
It was featured in one of the behind-the-scenes photos Ashley shared, right between her and Michael.
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A press release revealed about the new spin-off: “The film picks up fifteen years later and follows Derek and Casey as they each navigate parenthood and raise distinctly different teenagers.
“Derek is a successful musician in Paris and the single father of a 14-year-old girl named Skyler (Isabel Rose Silva) who is smart, funny and studious and has recently been testing the limits set by her father.
“Casey is a lawyer and married mother of three in Toronto and is very comfortable setting boundaries, even though her oldest son, 14-year-old Luca (Marcus Cornwall), who loves pranks, games and skateboarding, constantly crosses them” .
The synopsis continues: “Both Derek and Casey spontaneously decide to surprise their own parents at their newly built ‘forever home’ in rural Ontario, but instead they meet.
“Casey and Derek are happy to see each other, but the teenage cousins, who have barely seen each other over the years (and never liked what they saw), don’t get along at all, teaming up only to get into serious trouble. .”
While distributor WildBrain is still looking for a US home for the new 90-minute film, it is currently set to premiere on Family Channel in Canada in February 2023.
Life with Luca, which was directed by Ron Murphy, was created by original series creator Daphne Ballon and original writer Jeff Biederman.
Originally announced in May 2020, Life with Luca was first developed as a sequel television series.
Before being transformed into a 90-minute movie instead of a show, the synopsis read: “The series picks up 15 years later, as Derek and his ‘Type A’ personality daughter Skyler prepare to move in with Aunt Casey and his extended family.
“What complicates matters is that Derek’s daughter is much more like her aunt, and Casey’s ‘Type Z’ personality son is much more like his uncle.
“As Derek and Casey’s step-sibling dynamic reignites, Skyler tries to adjust to her new life with an aunt she barely knows and FOUR cousins.
“But the biggest adjustment of all will be living with Luca, a charming but rebellious prankster.”
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