Descendants (franchise)

Descendants
Created byJosann McGibbon
Sara Parriott
OwnerDisney Channel
Years2015–present
Based onAnimated films
by Walt Disney Animation Studios
Print publications
Novel(s)See list
Films and television
Film(s)
Short film(s)
  • Under the Sea (2018)
  • Audrey's Royal Return (2019)
  • Wicked Woods (2019)
Television special(s)
  • Descendants Remix Dance Party (2020)
  • Descendants: The Royal Wedding (2021)
Television short(s)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s)
Games
Video game(s)Descendants (2015)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)
Miscellaneous
Produced by
  • Judy Taylor (1–2)
  • Josann McGibbon (2–3)
  • Sara Parriott (2–3)
  • Kenny Ortega (2–3)
  • Wendy Japhet (3)
  • Jennifer Phang (4)
Written by
Starring
Music by
Cinematography
  • Thomas Burstyn (1)
  • Mark Iwin (2)
  • Adam Santelli (3)
Edited byDon Brochu

Descendants is an American media franchise centered on a series of Disney Channel musical fantasy films.[1] The franchise was created by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott,[2] with the first three films directed by Kenny Ortega, and the fourth directed by Jennifer Phang.[3]

The Descendants franchise is set in a universe that continues the narratives of Disney's animated classic films. The series stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart,[4] and each film follows the lives of the teenage children of four Disney Villains who reside on the Isle of the Lost. They are invited to the kingdom of Auradon by the teenage son of Queen Belle and King Beast.[5] The first film premiered as a Disney Channel Original Movie in July 2015. Due to its success, a sequel was produced and premiered across six Disney-owned networks in July 2017.[6] The third film debuted on Disney Channel in August 2019. A spinoff film to the previous three, Descendants: The Rise of Red, starring Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker, released on Disney+ on July 12, 2024.[7]

The film series also led to the creation of several television series, short films, television specials and novels.[8]

  1. ^ Geier, Thom (July 7, 2019). "Cameron Boyce, Star of Disney's 'Descendants,' Dies at 20". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  2. ^ Mundara, Vrinda (July 16, 2024). "Will there be a Descendants 5 Release Date & Is It Coming Out?". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Rowley, Glenn (November 22, 2022). "Brandy Returning as Cinderella for 'Descendants' Spinoff 'The Pocketwatch'". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Bolton, Cameron (September 17, 2022). "Descendants 4 Officially Announced, China Anne McClain to Return". MovieWeb. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Ristau, Reece (July 31, 2015). "Kenny Ortega on 'Descendants' Auditions, Modernizing Classic Disney". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Jenkins, Beverly (August 27, 2024). "Disney dropped a big hint about a possible 5th 'Descendants' film". The Mary Sue. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Donnelly, Jim (April 28, 2024). ""Descendants: The Rise of Red" starts streaming Friday, July 12, exclusively on Disney+ | Disney+". ABC. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Drum, Nicole (July 31, 2024). "Zendaya Almost Starred in a Surprising Disney Franchise Instead of Spider-Man". ComicBook.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.