Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century | |
---|---|
Based on | Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century by Marilyn Sadler & Roger Bollen |
Written by | Stu Krieger |
Directed by | Kenneth Johnson |
Starring | Kirsten Storms Raven-Symoné |
Theme music composer | Sabelle Breer Phil Marshall Kristian Rex |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producer | Thom Colwell |
Cinematography | Ron Orieux |
Editor | Terry Stokes |
Running time | 97 minutes |
Production company | de Passe Entertainment |
Original release | |
Network | Disney Channel |
Release | January 23, 1999 |
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century is a 1999 American science fiction comedy film directed by Kenneth Johnson and starring Kirsten Storms as the eponymous heroine. [1] The film was based on the book Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century written by Marilyn Sadler and Roger Bollen. The film was originally conceived as a pilot for a potential television series. [2] The film was the first under the Disney Channel Original Movie banner to produce a sequel, Zenon: The Zequel (2001). A third and final installment was also produced, Zenon: Z3 (2004).
The year is 2049 and Zenon Kar is a 13-year-old girl who lives with her family on an Earth-orbiting space station. After Zenon gets into trouble with the space station's commander, Edward Plank, her parents punish her by sending her to Earth to live with her Aunt Judy. On Earth, Zenon experiences trouble fitting in with other kids, who consider her name, space-station stories and slang to be weird. Likewise, Zenon considers the children at her school woefully out of touch with pop culture. Eventually, Zenon makes friends on Earth with two boys, Andrew and Greg (with whom she develops a relationship). Along the way, the kids learn to be more accepting of one another and to look past first impressions.
During her time on Earth, Zenon uncovers a plot masterminded by station bigwig Parker Wyndham to use a computer virus to crash the space station and collect the insurance money. When Zenon tries to warn her parents of the danger, Commander Plank, who sees all children as troublemakers, convinces Zenon's parents not to listen to her. Plank believes that her story is only a ploy to get back onto the space station to attend an upcoming concert by her idol Proto Zoa and his pop-rock group Microbe.
Andrew and Greg join in to help Zenon find a way to save the people on the space station. Andrew creates a computer antivirus, but Zenon must get Andrew's disk to the space station. Zenon goes to the launch yard, hoping to sneak onto a rocket to the space station. Proto Zoa, who is about to depart for the concert, recognizes Zenon from a "Dance with Proto Zoa" contest, has her join him on the launch to the station. Wyndham and Lutz enter the rocket to try to stop Zenon, and Aunt Judy follows them. Upon arrival, Commander Plank is shocked to see Zenon, but lets her stay when he becomes smitten with Aunt Judy. Plank still won't believe Zenon's story, especially when Wyndham accuses her of trying to sabotage the station. Zenon manages to load Andrew's antivirus program on the station's computers in time. Wyndham is arrested with his assistant Lutz while everyone else enjoys the Microbe concert.
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century was a failed pilot for a proposed television series. [2] It was directed by Kenneth Johnson. The film was produced by de Passe Entertainment for Disney Channel, and executive produced by Suzanne de Passe and Suzanne Coston. [3]
Filming began in August 1998, in Vancouver, British Columbia. [3] The rocket launch yard scenes were filmed at the Plaza of Nations.
Zenon was originally slated to air on Disney Channel in December 1998, [4] but ultimately premiered on January 23, 1999. [5] Walt Disney Home Video released it on VHS in September 2000. [6]
The film is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Disney+.
The special edition version on VHS has a bonus feature of Disney's Travelers.
The film was followed by Zenon: The Zequel (2001) and Zenon: Z3 (2004).
Marilyn Sadler is a children's writer with a deadpan sense of humor. She was born November 17, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of her best known works was made into a television Disney movie, under the title Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. That book is about a space girl who is sent to Earth and the cultural clashes she finds in her new planet. Subsequently, two additional Zenon films were made, Zenon: The Zequel and Zenon: Z3.
Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman-Maday, also known as Raven, is an American actress, singer, and director. She has received several accolades, including five NAACP Image Awards, two Kids' Choice Awards, three Young Artist Awards, and four Emmy Award nominations. In 2012, she was included on VH1's list of "100 Greatest Child Stars of All Time".
Judy Kuhn is an American actress, singer and activist, known for her work in musical theatre. A four-time Tony Award nominee, she has released four studio albums and sang the title role in the 1995 film Pocahontas, including her rendition of the song "Colors of the Wind", which won its composers the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Suzanna Celeste de Passe is an American businesswoman, television, music and film producer. De Passe serves as the co-chairwoman of de Passe Jones Entertainment Group.
Zenon: Z3 is a 2004 American science fiction comedy film directed by Steve Rash and starring Kirsten Storms, Raven-Symoné, and Lauren Maltby. It is the third and final installment of the Disney Channel's Zenon television film trilogy, following Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999) and Zenon: The Zequel (2001).
Kenneth Culver Johnson is an American screenwriter, producer and director. He is known as the creator of the V science fiction franchise as well as The Bionic Woman (1976–78), The Incredible Hulk series (1977–82), and the TV adaptation (1989) of Alien Nation. His creative efforts are almost entirely concentrated in the area of television science fiction.
Stuart Pankin is an American actor. He is known for his role as anchor Bob Charles in Not Necessarily the News and as the voice of Earl Sinclair in Dinosaurs. Stuart is also known for his portrayal of Commander Edward Plank in the Zenon trilogy films, and Orthodox Jew Ben Heineman in Curb Your Enthusiasm, as well as making many guest appearances in many television shows and for lending his voice to various animated shows and films. Among his approximately three dozen films was Hollywood Knights. He also appeared in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves and Arachnophobia and as Jimmy in Fatal Attraction.
Zenon: The Zequel is a 2001 American science fiction comedy film directed by Manny Coto in his last directorial film before his death in 2023. It is the second installment of the Disney Channel's Zenon television film series, following the first installment, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999), and preceding Zenon: Z3 (2004). The film is also the first sequel to be produced under the Disney Channel Original Movie banner. The Disney Channel Original Series Lizzie McGuire premiered after the film's premiere. This is the only Zenon film where Raven-Symoné doesn't play Nebula. She is replaced by Shadia Simmons.
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century is a 1996 children's science fiction picture book written by Marilyn Sadler and illustrated by Roger Bollen. It tells the story of Zenon Kar, a girl in the year 2049 who lives on a space station in the Milky Way. She is sent to her aunt on Earth to keep her out of trouble. She spends the summer on her grandparents' farm, learning their "old-fashioned" chores in their low-tech life. References in the novel are inspired by well-known science fiction characters.
Zenon may refer to
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