Jonas Brothers Return to Camp Rock While Demi Stays Behind Scenes

Max Sterling, 9/18/2025 Disney's throwing it back to Camp Rock with the Jonas Brothers, proving you can go home again—if home is a carefully calculated nostalgia play. This third installment sees our former teen heartthrobs returning as mentors, though Demi Lovato's executive-producer-only status hits a slightly off-key note in this millennial symphony.

The news leaked in classic modern fashion — Joe Jonas spilling the beans while choking on hot wings during "Hot Ones" (seriously, when will celebrities learn that Sean Evans always gets the scoop?). It's kind of perfect, though. The whole thing feels less like a carefully orchestrated PR announcement and more like that friend who can't keep a secret after their third drink.

Here's the thing about Disney's latest vault-mining expedition: they're getting pretty good at this whole generational bridge-building thing. Just look at what they pulled off with "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" (and yeah, that's still too many colons in one title). The new Camp Rock setup reads like a love letter to the circle of pop culture life — Connect 3, the Brothers' fictional band, heads back to camp looking for fresh talent after losing their opening act. Meta much?

But there's an elephant in the recording studio that needs addressing. While Demi Lovato's signed on as an executive producer, she won't be reprising her role as Mitchie Torres. After that electric "Wouldn't Change a Thing" performance with Joe at MetLife last month, her absence feels like ordering a peanut butter sandwich without the jelly. Sure, it still works, but something's definitely missing.

Ayo Davis, Disney's president of Branded Television, dropped some corporate-speak about legacy and cultural impact — standard stuff. But between the lines, there's a fascinating strategy at play. They're not just reheating leftovers; they're trying to serve up something that'll satisfy both the old-school camp counselors and the new generation of TikTok-savvy campers.

The new cast roster reads like a who's-who of "who's that?" — Liamani Segura, Malachi Barton, Lumi Pollack. Give it six months, though. These kids might be the ones dominating your kid's playlist by next Christmas. Throwing Sherry Cola into the mix as Lark feels like a smart play to keep things current, while Maria Canals-Barrera's return as Connie throws a bone to the day-one fans.

Behind the scenes, things get really interesting. Tim Federle, fresh off his "High School Musical" series success, is teaming up with the Jonas Brothers and Lovato in the executive producer's chair. It's like they're trying to brew up the perfect storm of old-school charm and new-school swagger.

The timing's pretty spot-on, too. The Jonas Brothers aren't just those Disney Channel kids anymore — they've somehow pulled off that rare child-star-to-legitimate-artist evolution that makes Justin Timberlake proud. Their recent social media bit, lip-syncing to their old Camp Rock scenes? Pure gold. They know exactly what they're doing, leaning into both the cringe and the charm of their Disney days.

This isn't just another reboot cash grab (looking at you, half of Netflix's catalog). It's more like watching someone try to catch lightning in a bottle while acknowledging the bottle's changed shape. The real question isn't whether they can recapture the magic — it's whether they can create something new that doesn't make the original fans wish they'd left well enough alone.

In a landscape where nostalgia's become as common as superhero movies, Camp Rock's return feels different. Maybe it's because the Jonas Brothers have earned enough credibility to make this feel less like a desperate comeback and more like a victory lap. Or maybe it's just that in 2025, we could all use a reminder of simpler times — even if those times involved way too much hair gel and questionable fashion choices.

Disney's latest nostalgia play just hit different. The House of Mouse dropped a bombshell that's got millennials buzzing — "Camp Rock 3" is officially happening, and yes, the Jonas Brothers are coming back to their old stomping grounds. But 2025's Camp Rock isn't exactly the same place they left behind in 2010.The news leaked in classic modern fashion — Joe Jonas spilling the beans while choking on hot wings during "Hot Ones" (seriously, when will celebrities learn that Sean Evans always gets the scoop?). It's kind of perfect, though. The whole thing feels less like a carefully orchestrated PR announcement and more like that friend who can't keep a secret after their third drink.Here's the thing about Disney's latest vault-mining expedition: they're getting pretty good at this whole generational bridge-building thing. Just look at what they pulled off with "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" (and yeah, that's still too many colons in one title). The new Camp Rock setup reads like a love letter to the circle of pop culture life — Connect 3, the Brothers' fictional band, heads back to camp looking for fresh talent after losing their opening act. Meta much?But there's an elephant in the recording studio that needs addressing. While Demi Lovato's signed on as an executive producer, she won't be reprising her role as Mitchie Torres. After that electric "Wouldn't Change a Thing" performance with Joe at MetLife last month, her absence feels like ordering a peanut butter sandwich without the jelly. Sure, it still works, but something's definitely missing.Ayo Davis, Disney's president of Branded Television, dropped some corporate-speak about legacy and cultural impact — standard stuff. But between the lines, there's a fascinating strategy at play. They're not just reheating leftovers; they're trying to serve up something that'll satisfy both the old-school camp counselors and the new generation of TikTok-savvy campers.The new cast roster reads like a who's-who of "who's that?" — Liamani Segura, Malachi Barton, Lumi Pollack. Give it six months, though. These kids might be the ones dominating your kid's playlist by next Christmas. Throwing Sherry Cola into the mix as Lark feels like a smart play to keep things current, while Maria Canals-Barrera's return as Connie throws a bone to the day-one fans.Behind the scenes, things get really interesting. Tim Federle, fresh off his "High School Musical" series success, is teaming up with the Jonas Brothers and Lovato in the executive producer's chair. It's like they're trying to brew up the perfect storm of old-school charm and new-school swagger.The timing's pretty spot-on, too. The Jonas Brothers aren't just those Disney Channel kids anymore — they've somehow pulled off that rare child-star-to-legitimate-artist evolution that makes Justin Timberlake proud. Their recent social media bit, lip-syncing to their old Camp Rock scenes? Pure gold. They know exactly what they're doing, leaning into both the cringe and the charm of their Disney days.This isn't just another reboot cash grab (looking at you, half of Netflix's catalog). It's more like watching someone try to catch lightning in a bottle while acknowledging the bottle's changed shape. The real question isn't whether they can recapture the magic — it's whether they can create something new that doesn't make the original fans wish they'd left well enough alone.In a landscape where nostalgia's become as common as superhero movies, Camp Rock's return feels different. Maybe it's because the Jonas Brothers have earned enough credibility to make this feel less like a desperate comeback and more like a victory lap. Or maybe it's just that in 2025, we could all use a reminder of simpler times — even if those times involved way too much hair gel and questionable fashion choices.