The Descendants franchise continues its magical journey with Descendants: The Rise of Red, the fourth installment in the series. Directed by Jennifer Phang, this musical fantasy film brings a fresh spin-off from the previous three films and follows the events of Descendants: The Royal Wedding.
Released on Disney+ on July 12, 2024, and set to premiere on Disney Channel on August 9, 2024, the film introduces new characters while bringing back some familiar faces.
The plot revolves around Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, and Chloe Charming, the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming. The official synopsis of the movie reads:
"Follows Red, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, daughter of Cinderella, as they team up to save Auradon by traveling in back in time using the White Rabbit's pocket watch, to stop an event that would cause grave consequences."
Cast list of Descendants: The Rise of Red
1) Kylie Cantrall as Red
Kylie Cantrall, known for her role in Gabby Duran & The Unsittables stars as Red, the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts.
In Descendants: The Rise of Red, Red's character is central to the plot as she navigates life at Auradon Prep, striving to escape her mother's oppressive shadow and forge her own identity.
2) Malia Baker as Chloe Charming
Malia Baker, who gained fame for her role as Mary Anne Spier in The Baby-Sitters Club, plays Chloe Charming, the kind-hearted daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming.
Chloe’s journey at Auradon Prep involves dealing with the legacy of her parents while discovering her own strengths and values.
3) China Anne McClain as Uma
China Anne McClain returns as Uma, Ursula's daughter, after starring in earlier Descendants movies. The headmistress de novo at Auradon Prep Uma provides depth due to her leadership skills and prior experience to guide the next generation of students.
4) Dara Reneé as Uliana
Dara Reneé, known for her role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, joins the cast as Uliana, the younger sister of Ursula and aunt of Uma.
Uliana’s character brings a mix of mischievousness and family loyalty to the narrative. Apart from being an actor, Dana is also an accomplished singer and model.
5) Rita Ora as the Queen of Hearts
Pop star and actress Rita Ora takes on the role of the Queen of Hearts, Red's tyrannical mother.
Her character’s strict and controlling nature sets the stage for Red’s rebellious journey. Rita Ora has worked in movies like The Fifty Shades trilogy, Southpaw, Twist and more.
6) Ruby Rose Turner as Bridget
Ruby Rose Turner, recognized for her performance in Coop & Cami Ask the World, plays the young Queen of Hearts, Bridget. The character provides a glimpse into the past, showing the transformation from a kind-hearted girl to the formidable Queen of Hearts.
Supporting cast members of Descendants: The Rise of Red
- Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother
- Grace Narducci as young Fairy Godmother
- Levin Valayil as Aladdin
- Kabir Bery as teen Aladdin
- Shazia Pascal as Jasmine
- Aiza Azaar as young Jasmine
- Jeremy Swift as Merlin
- Leonardo Nam as Maddox Hatter
- Alex Boniello as Jack of Diamonds
- Sam Morelos as Meadow
- Mars as young Maleficent
- Anthony Pyatt as young Hades
- Julee Cerda as lady Tremaine
What is the plot of Descendants: The Rise of Red?
Ten years after Descendants, Descendants: The Rise of Red features Mal, Ben, Evie and Jay leave Auradon to make alliances with other kingdoms. Uma becomes theheadmistress for Auradon Prep; therefore, she opens up its gates to Wonderland.
Red enters Auradon Prep at this point and has to get used to her new way of life there but also struggles with expectations from her mother and develops a friendship with Chloe Charming.
For the unversed, Descendants: The Rise of Red was released on July 12, exclusively on the Disney+ app.