Disney’s ‘Descendants’ Universe Expands With New Film Following Children Of Sidekicks From ‘Aladdin,’ ‘Emperor’s New Groove’ & More
Disney is expanding its Descendants franchise with a new film, Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story, centred on the children of famous Disney sidekicks rather than traditional heroes or villains. The production signals a new direction for the musical fantasy series, using familiar characters and settings to introduce a new generation of protagonists.
Production begins next week, with Dior Goodjohn playing Genie’s daughter Jennie, Momona Tamada as Yzma’s daughter Zara, and Jacob Rodriguez as Kronk Jr. The story follows recruits at Sidekick Academy who must protect the fairy-tale realm from villains without help from their parents or heroes; Jude Weng will direct a script by Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye and Emma Fletcher.
- Disney is making a new Descendants spin-off film.
- It follows children of Disney’s well-known sidekicks.
- Production is due to begin next week.
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Disney’s Descendants films are musical fantasy stories set in a shared world of characters from Disney fairy tales. Earlier films followed the children of famous heroes and villains as they made their own choices, often at a school where they learned to live together.
The new story shifts attention to the children of sidekicks: characters who traditionally help or accompany the main heroes. Its young leads include the daughter of Aladdin’s Genie and the children of Emperor’s New Groove characters Yzma and Kronk.
The recruits attend Sidekick Academy and face threats to the fairy-tale realm without relying on their parents or the heroes. The change gives familiar supporting characters’ families a central role in the franchise.