Hannah Montana The Movie Begins Production

Production is underway for Walt Disney Pictures’ “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” starring actress-singer Miley Cyrus in her first full-length feature film.  Filming in and around Nashville, Tenn., and Los Angeles, “Hannah Montana: The Movie” is slated for a Spring 2009 release. 

Director Peter Chelsom (“Serendipity,” “Shall We Dance?”) helms this music-filled comedy adventure based on Disney Channel's blockbuster television series, “Hannah Montana,” in which Cyrus stars as a teenage girl who lives a secret life as a pop star.  The film also features “Hannah Montana” series regulars Emily Osment (“Spy Kids2: Island of Lost Dreams”),  Jason Earles (“National Treasure”), Mitchel Musso (“Secondhand Lions”) and Moises Arias (“Nacho Libre”) and Billy Ray Cyrus ( “Doc”).

Also starring are Melora Hardin (“The Office,” “Seventeen Again”), Margo Martindale (“The Riches,” “Million Dollar Baby,”), Barry Bostwick (“Spin City”), Peter Gunn (“Ever After”) and Lucas Till ( “Walk the Line”) and Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”).

Written by Dan Berendsen ("Twitches," "The Initiation of Sarah"), the film follows Miley Stewart as Hannah Montana’s soaring popularity threatens to take over her life.  With a little urging from her father, the teenager travels back to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tenn., to rediscover what’s really important.

Producers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, whose film screenwriting credits include the upcoming "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," "Spider-Man 2" and "Shanghai Noon," are producing the film, marking the duo's first feature under their Walt Disney-based production company, Millar/Gough Ink.   The duo also created and served as executive producers of the critically acclaimed action-adventure series, "Smallville," which is now in its eighth season.