Avalon High (film)

Avalon High is a 2010 American fantasy television film, a Disney Channel Original Movie, and a loose adaptation of Meg Cabot’s 2005 novel of the same name. Directed by Stuart Gillard, the film stars Britt Robertson as Allie Pennington, a high school student who discovers she may be the reincarnation of a legendary figure from Arthurian myth. The cast also includes Gregg Sulkin, Joey Pollari, Devon Graye, and Molly C. Quinn.

Avalon High
Promotional poster
Genre	Drama Mystery Fantasy Teen
Based on	Avalon High by Meg Cabot
Written by	Julie Sherman Wolfe Amy Talkington
Directed by	Stuart Gillard
Starring	Britt Robertson Gregg Sulkin Joey Pollari Devon Graye
Theme music composer	Robert Duncan
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Howard Braunstein Michael Jaffe
Producers	Janine Dickins Stuart Gillard
Cinematography	Thomas Burstyn
Editor	James R. Symons
Running time	90 minutes
Production companies	Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment Ranger Productions
Original release
Network	Disney Channel
Release	November 12, 2010 (2010-11-12)

The second Disney Channel Original Movie directed by Gillard after Twitches Too (2007), its teleplay was written by Gillian Horvath and Lee Goldberg. Set in a modern-day high school, the story reimagines key characters from Arthurian legend as contemporary teenagers caught in a prophecy. Filming took place in New Zealand in mid-2010, with the production emphasizing themes of destiny, identity, and mythological legacy.

Avalon High premiered on Disney Channel in the United States on November 12, 2010, and was later released in Australia and New Zealand on January 22, 2011, and in the United Kingdom on January 28.^[1][2] The film received mixed critical reception, with reviewers noting its accessible premise for younger audiences but critiquing its departure from the book's original narrative.

Plot

Allie Pennington, the daughter of two medieval literature scholars, transfers to Avalon High and quickly becomes immersed in the lives of her new classmates. She befriends Will Wagner, the school's star quarterback; his best friend, Lance; his girlfriend, Jennifer; his stepbrother, Marco; and a shy student named Miles, who experiences psychic visions. As Allie spends more time with them, she begins to suspect that the students are reincarnations of figures from Arthurian legend, with Will as King Arthur, Lance as Lancelot, Jennifer as Guinevere, Marco as Mordred, and Miles as Merlin.

Assigned a school project with Miles on the mythical Order of the Bear, Allie receives help from her parents, who had written a book on the subject. Meanwhile, she discovers that Lance and Jennifer are secretly having an affair, mirroring the betrayal that contributed to Arthur's downfall. Concerned that history is repeating itself, Allie tries to warn Will but is repeatedly interrupted. She seeks help from Mr. Moore, their medieval literature teacher.

On the night of a crucial football game, Will discovers the affair and disappears. Allie finds him in the woods and tries to explain his true identity, but he dismisses it as a metaphor. During the game, Will regains his composure and plays successfully, forgiving Lance and Jennifer at halftime.

Afterward, Miles uses his psychic abilities to locate Will, leading them to the school theater. There, they find Marco injured and Will confronting Mr. Moore, who reveals himself as the true Mordred. Marco, once suspected of evil, explains he had been trying to protect Will, continuing his late father's legacy as a member of the Order of the Bear. As Mordred attacks, Allie seizes a prop sword, which transforms into Excalibur, revealing that she—not Will—is the reincarnation of King Arthur.

In a vision-like alternate realm, Allie, aided by Miles, Marco, Lance, and Will, defeats Mordred in battle. Returning to reality, Mr. Moore is taken away by security. Will returns to the game and leads his team to victory. Allie's parents, unaware of her true identity, lament their failure to find Arthur. Miles embraces his role as Merlin and becomes more confident. The film concludes with the characters symbolically assembled at a round table and Allie riding along the beach on horseback.

Cast

• Britt Robertson as Allie Pennington / King Arthur
• Gregg Sulkin as William Wagner / Knight
• Joey Pollari as Miles / Merlin
• Devon Graye as Marco Campbell
• Molly C. Quinn as Jennifer / Guinevere
• Christopher Tavarez as Lance Benwick / Lancelot
• Steve Valentine as Mr. Moore / Mordred
• Don Lake as Mr. Pennington
• Ingrid Park as Mrs. Pennington
• Craig Hall as Coach Barker
• Alison Bruce as Coach Miganov
• Anthony Ingruber as Sean
• Joshua Orol as Yulu

Songs

• The Fire Theft - Chain
• Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
• Play - Destiny

Production

Principal photography for Avalon High took place in Auckland, New Zealand, primarily at Studio West, from May 3 to June 3, 2010.^{[3][4][5][6][7]} Bethells Beach served as a location for the film's full-armour battle sequences.^[8] The production featured extensive use of visual effects, with Mechnology Visual Effects providing 134 digitally enhanced shots.[⁶]

Reception

Viewership

Avalon High premiered on Disney Channel in the United States on November 12, 2010. The premiere attracted 3.8 million viewers, ranking as one of the network's most-watched programs that night.^[9]

Critical reception

Avalon High received mixed reviews from critics. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising its positive messages and role models, particularly its focus on courage and self-discovery. She noted that while the film departs significantly from Meg Cabot's source material, it remains an engaging fantasy adventure suitable for older children and tweens.^[10]

A review published on The Guardian's children's books site commented on the differences between the film and Cabot's original novel, noting that some of the complexity and humor of the book were lost in translation. While the reviewer acknowledged that the film might appeal to younger audiences unfamiliar with the book, they found it a less compelling adaptation overall.^[11]

Accolades

Award	Date of the ceremony	Category	Recipients	Result	Ref.
Young Artist Awards	13 March 2011	Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special – Supporting Young Actor	Joey Pollari	Nominated	[12]
Writers Guild of America Awards	5 February 2011	Children's Script – Television	Julie Sherman Wolfe and Amy Talkington	Won	[13]
Directors Guild of America Awards	29 January 2011	Outstanding Directing – Children's Programs	Stuart Gillard	Nominated	[14]