Actress Vanessa Hudgens has joined the cast of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island as the female lead, according to Heat Vision Blog.

Josh Hutcherson will reprise his role as Sean Anderson from the original 2008 3D movie Journey to the Center of the Earth, with Dwayne Johnson already signed on as well. The story centers on Josh Hutcherson's Sean Anderson and Dwayne Johnson's character venturing out to an island in search of Anderson's grandfather (Michael Caine). Vanessa Hudgens will portray a local island resident who ends up falling for Josh Hutcherson's character.

Brad Peyton is directing the sequel from a script by Eric Brevig and Richard Outten. Filming was said to start later this month, on location in Hawaii and North Carolina.