Disney has had plenty of characters and films over the years, but the one thing that they’ve never shared between them all? A continuity. Rarely have you seen Snow White party with Belle, or Mulan kick some ass alongside Peter Pan. Expect that universe to get a shake-up in the near future though, as most of those characters got bizzay, and popped out a few kids who will be meeting each other in Disney’s Descendants.
In a present day idyllic kingdom, the benevolent teenaged son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle from Disney’s iconic Beauty and the Beast) is poised to take the throne. His first proclamation: offer a chance at redemption to the trouble-making offspring of Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, the Evil Queen and Jafar who have been imprisoned on a forbidden island with all the other villains, sidekicks, evil step-mothers and step-sisters.
These villainous descendants (Carlos, Mal, Evvie and Jay, respectively) are allowed into the kingdom to attend prep school alongside the offspring of iconic Disney heroes including Fairy Godmother, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Mulan. However, the evil teens face a dilemma. Should they follow in their nefarious parents’ footsteps and help all the villains regain power or embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom?
If that sounds like a recipe for a musical, then you’d be bang on the money. Descendants will have Kenny “High School High” Ortega directing, with casting kicking off soon. “We mined Disney’s treasure trove of stories and developed a new, comedic approach to the fabled characters everyone knows and loves,” said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide in a press statement.
The result is a modern and unexpected re-interpretation of classic heritage characters utilizing contemporary, relatable settings and themes.
Plus they’re going to rake in some mad cash with that idea, no doubt. Disney pretty much owes its animated success to musicals, and while I’m not against this idea, I’d kinda dig to see it in that particular format, instead of live-action. Filming kicks off next year, with a 2015 premiere on the cards.
Last Updated: December 13, 2013
