Disney's 'Hidden Heroes' Descendants Spinoff Enters Production
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- Disney announced Friday that 'Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story' begins production next week, expanding the Descendants franchise with a sidekick-focused offshoot
- The ensemble stars Dior Goodjohn as Jennie (Genie's daughter from Aladdin), Momona Tamada as Zara (Yzma's daughter), Jacob Rodriguez as Kronk Jr., Eva Fossaceca Smedley as Meri (Merryweather's daughter), Harry Jones as Lou (Lumiere's son), and Rhys Dawkins, Connor Wong, and Kyra Wong as the Potts Siblings from Beauty and the Beast
- The logline places recruits at 'Sidekick Academy' where they must band together to save the fairy tale realm from a villainous duo — without heroes, without parents, using only their new skills
- Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, framed the spinoff as putting sidekicks 'center stage' because they've always been 'an essential part of Disney's greatest adventures,' promising the music, dance, and heart fans expect
- Jude Weng directs from a script by Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye, and Emma Fletcher, with Mark Ordesky, Jane Fleming, Gary Marsh, and Chestna serving as executive producers under Disney Kids & Family
Why it matters: Disney is reviving a proven kids-and-family musical franchise with an entirely new premise — a 'Sidekick Academy' pulling from at least five different animated films (Aladdin, The Emperor's New Groove, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast). For Disney Kids & Family, the spinoff signals a bet on franchise depth over new IP, with five lead roles plus the Potts Siblings creating a fresh ensemble while reusing established sidekick IP.
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