The latest installment in the Disney Channel Original movie franchise, “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” is set to premiere this Friday on Disney+. The film introduces a new generation of Disney villain daughters at Auradon Prep, with Red (Kylie Cantrall) and Chloe (Malia Baker) traveling back in time to prevent Red’s mother, the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), from turning evil. The cast, including Malia Baker, Kylie Cantrall, and Morgan Dudley, shared how the film taught them valuable lessons on friendship and performance.
Malia Baker, 17, reflected on the impact of the first “Descendants” trilogy, which focused on Mal (Dove Cameron), the daughter of Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth), and Evie (Sofia Carson), the daughter of Snow White’s Evil Queen (Kathy Najimy). “From the first Descendants, I learned a lot about mother-daughter relationships, about complex relationships, and a lot of female friendships,” Malia said in a recent Zoom interview. She admired the strong bond between Evie and Mal, hoping to have a friendship like theirs one day.
Morgan Dudley, who began her career in 2020, was inspired by the original “Descendants” films to become a performer. “Disney Channel Original movie musicals specifically are a big reason that I wanted to be a performer when I was really little,” Morgan shared. She expressed excitement about joining the Disney family and being among so many talented people, hoping “The Rise of Red” will inspire a new generation of performers.
Kylie Cantrall, 19, already a pop star before joining the Disney family in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” Season 4, brought performance lessons from that show to her role in “Descendants.” She emphasized the importance of physicality in her portrayal of Red, focusing on how the character walks and carries herself. “There’s so much physicality with that character, and I really had to think about how she walks and her posture,” Cantrall explained.
In the film, Red and Chloe encounter their mothers’ younger versions. Before becoming the Queen of Hearts, Bridget (Ruby Rose Turner) was a kind girl. Young Cinderella, or Ella (Morgan Dudley), was part of a group of girls who bullied Bridget, led by Ulyana (Dara Reneé). Turner and Morgan studied their adult counterparts to understand their characters better, even though their teenage versions were quite different.
Morgan Dudley expressed admiration for Brandy Norwood, who plays the adult Cinderella. “Brandy’s somebody I’ve looked up to for a super duper long time,” Morgan said. Although they did not share scenes, Morgan took notes from afar, admiring Norwood’s presence and beauty to fill in the timeline gap with their characters.
Kylie Cantrall had the opportunity to perform a duet with Rita Ora, who has been recording and performing since 2012. Cantrall considered Ora an influence when she began releasing her music five years later. “I have listened to tons of Rita Ora growing up,” Cantrall said. “Getting to sing on a song with her was definitely one of those really, really cool moments.”
The film’s soundtrack features songs that introduce the characters and their stories. “Life Is Sweeter” is a song that establishes how different younger Bridget was, helping Turner understand her character better. “It really introduced me to the kind of character that I was going to play,” Turner said.
Other songs are character-specific, such as “Perfect Revenge,” sung by Dara Reneé as an ode to her villainy. Reneé, 23, enjoyed the transformation her character underwent, saying, “In the studio, they were like, ‘Listen, she’s already gone through her transformation and now she’s officially all the way evil.’ It’s so fun being someone outside of yourself.”
The cast of “Descendants: The Rise of Red” not only brought their characters to life but also learned valuable lessons about friendship and performance. The film’s exploration of complex relationships and the importance of physicality in character portrayal provided the young actors with insights that will undoubtedly shape their future careers.
As the fourth film in the “Descendants” franchise, “The Rise of Red” continues to inspire and entertain audiences, showcasing the talents of its cast and the enduring appeal of Disney’s villainous descendants. The lessons learned by the cast members, both on and off-screen, highlight the power of storytelling and the impact of strong, supportive friendships.
Source: UPI
