“You can’t really talk about ‘Camp Rock’ or have a ‘Camp Rock’ movie without referencing her,” director Veronica Rodriguez tells EW. “We love Mitchie.”

Camp Rock 3 director addresses Demi Lovato cameo speculation, promises ‘good amount’ of Jonas Brothers (exclusive)

"You can't really talk about 'Camp Rock' or have a 'Camp Rock' movie without referencing her," director Veronica Rodriguez tells EW. "We love Mitchie."

By Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author. Her work has previously appeared in *TV Guide Magazine*, E! News/E! Online, *The Hollywood Reporter*, Mashable, Bustle, IGN, DCComics.com, Inverse, *The Daily Northwestern*, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 16, 2025 9:30 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

David Astorga/Disney

There's one thing all *Camp Rock* fans can agree on when it comes to original franchise star Demi Lovato: she's *really* good. But the real question is whether she'll make a surprise appearance in *Camp Rock 3.*

"You can't really talk about *Camp Rock* or have a *Camp Rock* movie without referencing her. We love Mitchie," director Veronica Rodriguez tells *, *referring to Lovato's character in the series, Mitchie Torres.

While not confirmed as a cast member, Lovato is an executive producer on the upcoming Disney movie musical revival (premiering in summer 2026 on Disney+ and Disney Channel) featuring the return of the Jonas Brothers as the fictional rock group Connect 3. But the first teaser, released earlier this month, led fans to wonder whether she might make a cameo.

While Mitchie isn't shown onscreen, she's heard in voiceover with quotes from the first two *Camp Rock *movies, as well as her duet with her onscreen love interest Shane (Joe Jonas), "Wouldn't Change a Thing." The montage footage also shows Mitchie's journal, in which she wrote all her songs.

Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas in 'Camp Rock 3'.

David Astorga/Disney

While the director would not confirm any theories about Lovato making a surprise cameo, she teases that "*Camp Rock 3* is a continuation of the story we know and love." Rodriguez reveals the movie picks up 15 years after the events of *Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam*, so the story is happening in real time, and Connect 3 is bigger than ever. But after a decade and a half, are Shane (Joe Jonas) and Mitchie still together?

"That is the question," Rodriguez says with a smile. "I can't spoil anything. What I will say is that people should be excited to see some OG characters. You should feel all of those nostalgic vibes. We tried to put in as many things as we can into this movie, some iconic set pieces, the Jonas Brothers as Connect 3, and even Connie [Maria Canals-Barrera], Mitchie's mom, has a bigger role in this movie. So Mitchie is very much a character in this movie, in this world, and we should feel her, for sure, because she's iconic and beloved and is a part of the *Camp Rock* legacy."

Rodriguez was tapped to direct Eydie Faye's script after previously working together on Disney's 2023 movie *The Slumber Party*. The filmmaker says that Lovato's role as an executive producer, not a star, "was figured out before" she joined the project, so she doesn't know whether there were any early discussions about Lovato also starring in the movie alongside Joe.

Maria Canals-Barrera, Jonas Brothers, and Sherry Cola in 'Camp Rock 3'.

David Astorga/Disney

"But it was really amazing to have her as an executive producer, and she was involved with the script," Rodriguez says. "She was just really ensuring that this movie gives our audience all the *Camp Rock* amazingness that she was part of back in *Camp Rock 1* and *2*. And so she was a fantastic partner in making this as good as it can be."**

*Camp Rock 3 *begins when Connect 3 loses their opening act for a major reunion tour. The rock star brothers return to the beloved camp to discover the next big thing, allowing all the young campers to compete to open for their band on tour.**

"We definitely did our best to give everyone as much as we can from that original *Camp Rock* feel, so the Jonas Brothers are in it a good amount," Rodriguez promises. "Everyone should feel very satisfied with that, and it was so fun to be able to work with them in that way. But then also we have the job of introducing a whole new generation of Camp Rockers."

Liamani Segura in 'Camp Rock 3'.

David Astorga/disney

While the original two films centered on love interests Mitchie and Shane, *Camp Rock 3* expands the story for an ensemble of five young campers: Sage (Liamani Segura), Fletch (Malachi Barton), Rosie (Lumi Pollack), Desi (Hudson Stone), and Cliff (Casey Trotter).

"We wanted to give a little bit of a *Breakfast Club* vibe with the five of them, a very diverse group who realize that they're better together," Rodriguez says. "Sage is our new Mitchie, the girl with a dream, with the voice of an angel, who goes to Camp Rock for the first time. She goes with her brother Desi, who is just a rock star."

Rodriguez promises that Barton's Fletch, the "camp bad boy," will show a different side of the actor that his fans haven't seen before in his previous Disney roles. She also describes *Electric Bloom* star Pollack as "a powerhouse" for her performance as the cello wunderkind Rosie.

"Rounding out our group is Casey Trotter, playing our lovable goofball Cliff," she adds. "He's bringing a little comedy into the gang."

Malachi Barton and Hudson Stone in 'Camp Rock 3'.

David Astorga/Disney

Balancing nostalgia for the older, original fans of *Camp Rock* with the new, younger audience coming to the franchise for the first time was no easy feat. But Rodriguez, who grew up on Disney Channel Original Movies herself, approached the task with reverence, honor, and a deep love for the canon.**

"No one wants to mess up the new *Camp Rock*," she says. "I'm trying to do *Camp Rock*+, like I want to give *Camp Rock*, but even more."

That strategy applies to the musical movie's ... well, music. "We of course also have some of our OG songs that we've brought back," Rodriguez reveals. Some we've refreshed, and some we just keep as is because they're just that good. And we have new music along with some of our faves from the original movies."

Jonas Brothers return in first 'Camp Rock 3' teaser ... with Demi Lovato?!

Jonas Brothers reveal Joe's 'Camp Rock' audition 'looked terrible': Execs asked, 'Is this a joke?'

The director confirms that includes new music from the Jonas Brothers as Connect 3, as well as some songs in unexpected genres.

"We really wanted to celebrate the diversity in music, so of course we've got our rock songs, but we also wanted to acknowledge a lot of other genres that are popular music in right now," she says. "There's a nod to Americana pop country, you've got your more Bruno Mars pop song, your classic girl power rock, a get-up-and-dance song. We've got it all."

Rodriguez hopes there's something for everyone to love in the new *Camp Rock*, but she already knows no one will love it more than the movie's No. 1 fan: her newborn daughter, who was born less than two weeks after wrapping production.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

"I was super pregnant while directing this — we literally wrapped production Oct. 28, and I was due Nov. 12," she says. "We had a whole backup plan for if this baby comes early, and she did come early, but only two days early, thank goodness."

Rodriguez laughs as she shares that everyone on the set considers her newborn daughter the "MVP crew member" for not arriving until after the movie finished filming.

"If she does not end up musically inclined, I don't know what happened, because she was around singing and dancing for the whole pregnancy," the director adds. "Nature vs. nurture, I nurtured the musical performer in her, so it's happening."

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

- Musical Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Musical”