The imaginative story about the teenage sons and daughters of Disney’s mostinfamous villainswill continue inDescendants 2, a Disney Channel Original Movie set to begin production this summer for a2017 premiere, it was announced today by Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide. Emmy Award-winning directorKenny Ortega(Descendants,High School Musicalmovies, 2016’sThe Rocky Horror Picture Show) will return as director, executive producer and choreographer. Here’s what Disney Channel’sGary Marshhad to say in a statement.
“Just when you thought ‘Happily Ever After’ had come to the land of Auradon,Descendants 2turns the page to reveal a whole new level of mystery and surprise.”
It is the highly anticipated sequel toDescendants, the No. 1 cable television movie of 2015 and the fifth highest-rated original movie ever on U.S. cable TV in Total Viewers. It is also the No. 1Disney ChannelOriginal Movie ever among kids in France, Netherlands, Belgium (south), Portugal, South Africa and Spain. In Italy, it is the No. 1 Disney Channel Original Movie ever among girls.
Consumer interest remains strong in newDescendantsstories as Disney Publishing’s sequel book,Return to the Isle of the Lostwritten byMelissa de la Cruz, entered the New York Times Best Sellers List (Middle Grade Hardcover) at No. 2 last week, its first week of release. The first book,The Isle of the Lost, was No. 1 for 14 weeks and this week, reentered for its 37th week on the best sellers list.
Dove Cameron(Liv and Maddie),Cameron Boyce(Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything,Jessie),Booboo Stewart(X-Men Days of Future Past),Sofia Carson(Adventures in Babysitting) andMitchell Hopewill reprise their starring roles asMal, Carlos, Jay, Evie and King Ben, respectively.China Anne McClain(A.N.T. Farm) will join the cast as Uma, the daughter of Ursula fromThe Little Mermaid. Casting will be announced soon for additional new characters including the progeny of villains Captain Hook and Gaston.
Lauded writersSara ParriottandJosann McGibbon(The Starter Wife,Runaway Bride), who won a 2016 Writers Guild Award forDescendants, wroteDescendants 2and will also executive-produce withWendy Japhet(Descendants,An Education,The Italian Job).Descendantscostume designerKara Saun(Project Runway) and production designerMark Hofeling(Teen Beach Movie,High School Musical) are also signed on for the sequel.Tony Testa(The Rocky Horror Picture Show,This Is It) will join the creative team as choreographer withOrtega, andShawn Williamson(Adventures in Babysitting) will join as producer. Take a look at photos of the cast and creative team below, including new cast memberChina Anne McClain, and stay tuned for more onDescendants 2.
