Disney scored a big hit with the live action ‘Maleficent’ on the big screen, but the House of Mouse is taking full advantage of its rich animated history with ‘Descendants’, a TV movie that will feature some of its classic fairy tale heroes and villains as well as their offspring.  Broadway and ‘Glee’ star Kristen Chenoweth will be playing Maleficent in this version and Kathy Najimy portrays Snow White’s Evil Queen.  But this being Disney, the bulk of this film is likely to focus on the telegenic younger cast and the network has just released a photograph showcasing these younger characters.

The cast features the X-Men’s Warpath, Booboo Stewart as Jay, the son of Aladdin nasty Jafar, Cameron Boyce as Carlos DeVil the son of ‘101 Dalmations’ Cruella DeVil (played in this movie by Wendy Raquel Robinson), Sophia Carson as Evvie the daughter of the Evil Queen and Dove Cameron as Mal the daughter of Maleficent.  You can check them out below:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this story concept– and seeing the actors in their roles– bears a strong resemblance to the doll line/online cartoon series ‘Ever After High’ which is also based on the children of fairy tale characters.  (See below.)

Disney benefits from being able to draw on their original characters like Jafar and Cruella DeVil who are essentially household names.

Here is the official description:

In a present day idyllic kingdom, 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 offspring 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?

The movie is being directed by ‘High School Musical’ helmer Kenny Ortega.  Will you be checking it out?

Source: Collider