A New Chapter Begins in the Descendants Universe
Disney has officially confirmed the title of the fifth installment in its wildly popular Descendants franchise: Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. Slated for release in 2026 on Disney Channel and Disney+, this new chapter will bring back beloved characters and introduce a new generation of children to classic Disney heroes and villains.
Two major stars are reprising their roles: Brandy returns as Cinderella, and Rita Ora reprises her turn as the Queen of Hearts. Joining them once again are Paolo Montalban as King Charming and Melanie Paxson as the Fairy Godmother, who now holds the unique distinction of appearing in all five Descendants films.
A Star-Studded Cast of Heroes and Villains’ Kids
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland will focus on Red (Kylie Cantrall), daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe (Malia Baker), daughter of Cinderella. After their time-bending adventure in Descendants: The Rise of Red, this sequel explores the consequences of altering history—and what “happily ever after” really means when fate is rewritten.
The full cast includes a mix of familiar faces and exciting newcomers:
- Liamani Segura as Pink, Red’s sister
- Brendon Tremblay as Max, son of Maddox Hatter
- Alexandro Byrd as Luis, son of Luisa Madrigal
- Kiara Romero as Hazel Hook, daughter of Captain Hook
- Joel Oulette as Robbie, son of Robin Hood
- Zavien Garrett as Felix, son of Dr. Facilier
- Ryan McEwen & Dayton Paradis as Squirmy and Squeaky, the Smee Twins
- Leonardo Nam as Maddox, the Mad Hatter’s son
Wonderland Awaits
Set mainly in present-day Wonderland. The story picks up the thread left dangling in The Rise of Red. Where a mysterious warning hinted at the dangers of tampering with time. The new film will explore how those choices shape Red and Chloe’s futures, weaving in Wonderland’s eccentric charm with the high-stakes drama the franchise is known for.
The film is directed by Kimmy Gatewood, with a screenplay from Tamara Chestna, Dan Frey, and Ru Sommer. Executive producers Suzanne Todd and Gary Marsh return to guide the story, while Emmy® Award-winning choreographer Emilio Dosal will once again lead the film’s signature music and dance numbers.
Celebrating 10 Years of Descendants
2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the Descendants franchise, which began on Disney Channel in 2015 and quickly became a global phenomenon. The first three films were the most-watched cable movies of their release years. In 2024, Descendants: The Rise of Red debuted as the most-watched original film on Disney+ among kids and girls 6–11, sparked over 10 billion social impressions, and even inspired a top Halloween costume.
The franchise also includes:
- The animated series Descendants: Wicked World
- The animated special Descendants: The Royal Wedding
- Gold-certified soundtracks and Billboard No. 1s
- Over 57 tie-in books, including four New York Times bestsellers
- The upcoming Descendants/ZOMBIES: Worlds Collide Tour, hitting 43 arenas across North America this summer
- And who can forget the Magical Holiday Celebration?
What’s Next for Auradon?
With production underway and a release year set, Descendants: Wicked Wonderland is shaping up to be a fitting milestone celebration. It honors the franchise’s past while pushing the story into exciting, uncharted territory—this time, down the rabbit hole.
More details at D23 and The Walt Disney Company.
