Disney has announced that Paolo Montalban has been added to the cast of “Descendants: The Rise of Red” (formerly known as “The Pocketwatch”), the latest instalment in Disney Branded Television’s music-driven mega-hit “Descendants” franchise. Montalban will portray King Charming, Cinderella’s (Brandy) husband and Chloe’s (Malia Baker) dad, who is as much in love with Cinderella as he ever was.  He previously played Prince Charming opposite Brandy’s Cinderella in Walt Disney Television’s iconic 1997 movie “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.”

The “Descendants” movies unfurled an imaginative mythology of two new lands, idyllic Auradon and the ragtag Isle of the Lost, home to the teenage progeny of Disney’s most iconic characters and notably, its most notorious villains. The bold new story of “Descendants: The Rise of Red” returns to these lands and also takes audiences through the rabbit hole to the hostile unincorporated territory of Wonderland, a magical, mysterious place made famous in “Alice in Wonderland.”

“Descendants: The Rise of Red” follows the story of Red, the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter.  When the tyrannical Queen of Hearts incites a coup against Auradon, polar opposites Red and Chloe must join forces and travel back in time to undo the traumatic event that set Red’s mother down her villainous path.

A royal occasion. ✨ King Charming (@PaoloMontalban) and Cinderella (@4everBrandy) have joined the upcoming Original movie, #DisneyDescendants: Rise of Red! pic.twitter.com/EsBxOqyr7q

— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) March 22, 2023

Montalban joins previously announced cast members Kylie Cantrall (Disney’s “Gabby Duran and the Unsittables”) as Red, Malia Baker (“The Babysitters Club”) as Chloe, Brandy (“Queens”) as Cinderella, Rita Ora (“Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight”) as “The Queen of Hearts,” China Anne McClain (Disney’s “Descendants 2” and “Descendants 3”) as Uma, Dara Reneé (Disney’s “High School Musical: The Musical: the Series”) as Uliana, Ruby Rose Turner (Disney’s “Coop and Cami Ask the World”) as Bridget/Young Queen of Hearts, Morgan Dudley (“Jagged Little Pill” on Broadway) as Ella/Young Cinderella, Joshua Colley (“Senior Year”) as Hook, Melanie Paxson (“Descendants” franchise) as Fairy Godmother, Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”) as Principal Merlin and Leonardo Nam (“Westworld”) as Maddox Hatter.

Lauded filmmaker Jennifer Phang (“Advantageous,” “Half-Life,” “Foundation,” “The Flight Attendant”) is the director and co-executive producer of “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” and the script was written by Dan Frey and Russell Sommer (“Magic: The Gathering”). Returning to the franchise is production designer Mark Hofeling (“Descendants,” “Zombies,” “High School Musical”). Suzanne Todd (“Noelle”) and Gary Marsh are executive producers, and the casting directors are Alexis Frank Koczara and Christine Smith Shevchenko (“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”).

The first three “Descendants” movies, along with “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella”, are also available to stream now on Disney+.

What do you think of Paolo Montalban joining the cast?  Let us 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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