The Descendants universe is about to get a whole lot bigger, as Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story has revealed the actors playing its adult characters, bringing several more beloved Disney legends into the sprawling tale.
This time around, the spotlight isn’t on the children of heroes or villains, but on the descendants of their loyal sidekicks instead. It’s a fresh and unique angle for a franchise that’s built its identity around legacy characters, and we’re very curious to get to know more about these “hidden heroes.”
(Photo credit: Disney/Eric Milner)
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Who’s Playing Who
Darren Criss will be stepping into the role of Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio, while Sherry Cola brings The Emperor’s New Groove villain Yzma into the Descendants world.
Hugo Ateo also joins as Yzma’s unforgettable partner-in-crime, Kronk, while Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart reprises his Broadway role as the Genie from Aladdin.
Sean Yves Lessard rounds out the cast as Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, with Dan Bakkedahl playing the powerful sorcerer Yen Sid from Fantasia.
What the Movie Will Be About
The film will focus on Sidekick Academy, a secret training facility hidden inside every fairy tale, where the children of legendary sidekicks train to become partners to heroes.
When a villainous duo arrives at the academy, a group of new recruits is forced to band together, without heroes or their parents to rely on, to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.
The young cast includes Dior Goodjohn as Jennie, daughter of the Genie, Momona Tamada as Zara, daughter of Yzma, and Jacob Rodriguez as KJ, son of Kronk, plus Eva Fossaceca Smedley as Meri, the daughter of the fairy Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty and Harry Jones as Lou, son of Lumiere.
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Broadway Synergy
James Monroe Iglehart’s casting comes with some fun history behind it, since he originated the role of Genie in Disney’s Aladdin stage musical and even won a Tony Award for the performance back in 2014.
Fans online have had some mixed reactions to a new actor stepping into such an iconic role, but we’re not taking too much stock in any criticism, as that’s been a common thread throughout Disney’s ever-expanding universe of legacy sequels.
Where This Fits in the Descendants Universe
The original Descendants franchise spans five movies following the children of Disney’s most famous heroes and villains as they attend Auradon Prep together.
Hidden Heroes will mark the first time the franchise has shifted its focus away from that core cast entirely, instead building out a brand new corner of the Descendants world focused on sidekicks.
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The Team Behind the Camera
Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story is written by Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye and Emma Fletcher, with Jude Weng in the director’s chai.
Like its predecessors, the film has been described as a music-and-dance-fueled story, continuing the franchise’s signature tone.
With this much Disney star power now locked in, Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story looks ready to expand the franchise in a fresh direction. We can’t wait for more details.
For more on Descendants, click HERE to discover 55 lyrics from the series to use as your next Instagram caption.
