Following the huge success of the latest “Descendants” film, “The Rise Of Red”, Disney has announced that production will begin soon on the fifth movie in the franchise, which will be released on Disney+ and the Disney Channel.

The newly greenlit Disney Channel Original Movie will expand the music-and-dance-fueled stories centred around the teenage progeny of Disney’s most iconic characters and villains. Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker will reprise their roles as Princesses Red and Chloe, the daughters of the Queen of Hearts and Cinderella, respectively. The film’s official title will be announced at a later date.

Picking up shortly after the events of the 2024 hit film “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” the next chapter explores what “happily ever after” is really like for Red and Chloe, following their return from their time-travelling adventures. Set primarily in present-day Wonderland, the sequel delves into the warning at the end of the previous movie: “There are consequences when you alter the fabric of time.”

In addition to Cantrall and Baker, Leonardo Nam returns as Maddox Hatter. New descendants to the franchise include Liamani Segura as Red’s sister Pink, Brendon Tremblay as Max Hatter,  Alexandro Byrd as Luis Madrigal, and Kiara Romero as Hazel Hook. Additional characters to be confirmed as casting continues to unfold.

Kimmy Gatewood (“The Baby-sitter’s Club,” “Girls5eva”) is set to direct, with a script by co-executive producer Tamara Chestna (“Sneakerella”) and Dan Frey and Ru Sommer (“Descendants: The Rise of Red”). Returning to the franchise are executive producers Suzanne Todd and Gary Marsh. Gatewood also serves as co-producer. Emmy Award-winning choreographer Emilio Dosal (“Wicked,” “Sneakerella”) will bring the brand-new music-and-dance sequences, which have become a beloved hallmark of the “Descendants” franchise, to life.

Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television said in a statement regarding the new movie:

“The love for the ‘Descendants’ franchise runs deep, and the incredible response to ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ last year proved just how much fans are invested in these characters and their stories.  Our next movie will build on that legacy and deliver even more of the magic, music and heart that make ‘Descendants’ so special — brought to life by an amazing cast and creative team who continue to elevate this world in new and exciting ways.”

The franchise has been a huge hit for Disney+ and the Disney Channel, with each premiere telecast of the first three “Descendants” movies ranking as the most-watched cable movie of the year (2015, 2017 and 2019) among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. The latest installment, “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” debuted on Disney+ in July and was last year’s most-watched original movie across all streaming among Kids 6-11 and Girls 6-11.

While we wait for the next instalment in the “Descendants” franchise, “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” the first three “Descendants” movies, animated spinoff series “Descendants: Wicked World,” animated special “Descendants: The Royal Wedding” and several “Descendants”-inspired music videos are also available to stream on Disney+.

Roger’s Take:  This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise for fans of the franchise, since the last film was a huge hit for Disney+ and it’s great to see Disney leaning in on this brand even more, since each year there are more and more kids interested in these adventures.

What do you think of Disney making a fifth “Descendants” film?  Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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