Descendants Coming to Disney Channel in 2015 ©Disney

Descendants Coming to Disney Channel in 2015 ©Disney

Descendants Live-Action Movie will introduce the offspring of several classic Disney characters! This first tease lists only a made for TV movie, but with the success of the Once Upon a Time series, I have to believe Disney is already looking at expanding this into something greater and will become a staple of Disney Channel teen focused programming.It will be very interesting to see how far outside of the movie/show that these characters enter into the Disney realm of theme parks and merchandise marketing.

Per Disney PR: They’ve struck fear into our hearts with a piercing gaze. With sinister, spine-tingling laughter they send chills rippling through our bodies. And now, for the first time, we meet their teenage kids? Yes, the Disney Villains’ legacy will continue in the brand-new, contemporary live-action Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants.

Moments ago, the network announced that casting began for Disney’s Descendants, a contemporary live-action adventure-comedy that taps into Disney’s most evil villains and introduces their children—a modern-day generation of teenagers who ultimately question the evil that’s always been in their hearts.

The film takes place in a present-day idyllic kingdom, where 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 spawn 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?

Kenny Ortega, the Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer of Disney’s record-setting High School Musical, returns to Disney Channel to direct Descendants, which is scheduled to begin production next spring for a 2015 premiere on the network.

 

What do you think of this movie and potential series? Is Disney crossing the line by adding live action characters derived from their classic films or is this a welcome addition to the Disney character world? Post your thoughts below!

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