The Descendants Universe is expanding by shining a light on everyone’s favorite sidekicks, from movies like Aladdin, Emperor’s New Groove, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. “Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story,” a new, music-and-dance-fueled movie expanding the “Descendants” universe, has been greenlit for Disney Channel and Disney+. This brand-new “Descendants” story centers on the journey of the unsung heroes behind Disney’s greatest adventure —the sidekicks! Production for the film begins next week.
The announcement comes on the heels of “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland” ranking as the No. 1 movie on Disney+ globally
Meet the Cast of Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story
The lead cast includes the following:
- Dior Goodjohn (“Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” “Poser”) as Jennie, the daughter of Genie from “Aladdin”
- Momona Tamada (“The Baby-Sitters Club”) as Zara, the daughter of Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove”
- Jacob Rodriguez (“Tell Me Lies”) as Kronk Jr., the son of Kronk from “The Emperor’s New Groove”
- Eva Fossaceca Smedley (“Welcome to Flatch”) as Meri, the daughter of Merryweather from “Sleeping Beauty”
- Harry Jones (“Bury Your Nephew”) as Lou, the son of Lumiere from “Beauty and the Beast”
KYRA WONG
Also joining the cast are Rhys Dawkins, Connor Wong and Kyra Wong as the Potts Siblings (from “Beauty and the Beast”).
Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes. When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together. Without heroes, without parents — using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.
Directed by Jude Weng (“Only Murders in the Building,” “Finding ‘Ohana”). The script was written by Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye and Emma Fletcher. Mark Ordesky (“ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires”) and Jane Fleming (“ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires”) are executive producers. Alongside Gary Marsh and Chestna, who executive produced “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.” Louise Hradsky and Jeffrey Mortensen are the choreographers. The movie is produced by Disney Kids & Family.
Yzma is not an Unsung Hero
For the most part there has been an uptick in pop culture that views Yzma from The Emperor’s New Grove as an unsung hero. Mostly because they views Kuzco as insufferable and selfish in the beginning of the film. However no matter how insufferable and selfish he was, Yzma is not the savior or hero at the end of the film. To emphasize if anyone believes that Yzma is an unsung hero, you might need a refresher.
She is truly a villain who commits treasons and poisons the Emperor and not because she cares about the people. She only cares about power. If anything Yzma is an unsung villain that deserves to be talked about on the same pedestal as Maleficent and Jafar. I realized that Zara and Kronk Jr. would most likely be the new villainous duo attending the academy. Which makes perfect sense given who their parents are.
“One of the things that has always made ‘Descendants’ so special is the way it invites audiences to experience familiar Disney stories through an entirely new perspective,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “With ‘Hidden Heroes,’ we’re finally putting the sidekicks center stage, because they’ve always been an essential part of Disney’s greatest adventures. It’s a fun, surprising new chapter that expands the ‘Descendants’ universe with all the music, dance and heart fans love and expect from the franchise.”
These sidekicks are ready to step into their main character energy. Coming soon to Disney’s unsung heroes when it comes to Disney Channel and Disney+
