All About Descendants: The Rise of Red, the Star-Studded Descendants Spinoff

Get ready to return to Auradon with Descendants: The Rise of Red.

Marking the fourth film in the Descendants franchise, the spinoff movie follows a new group of storybook characters — with the inclusion of a few memorable faces. 

In PEOPLE’s exclusive first look at the upcoming film, China Anne McClain returns in the role of Uma, who is now the Principal of Auradon Prep. 

Promising to shake things up in her new role, she reveals that she’ll be opening Auradon Prep to “all the kingdoms” including Wonderland. 

The upcoming movie was first teased in 2021, following the release of the animated special Descendants: The Royal Wedding and was officially greenlit the following year. 

Since then, we have gotten a handful of exciting details about the cast and plot. Here’s everything to know about the film before it releases later this year. 

Which original Descendants cast members will return for Descendants: The Rise of Red?

McClain is slated to return as Uma, the spunky daughter of Ursula. Joining her from the original cast is Melanie Paxson who will reprise her role as Fairy Godmother. 

Though Mal (the role played by Dove Cameron) is mentioned in the new teaser trailer, she and original stars Booboo Stewart and Sofia Carson are not expected to appear in the new film. 

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, McClain explained that she was nervous about returning for the movie following Cameron Boyce's death in 2019, but reprising her role ended up being a "healing" journey.

“I was apprehensive to revisit the Descendants world at first, because losing Cam was the first heartbreak I’ve ever experienced," she told PEOPLE. "But once I saw how excited the new generation of kids were, it reminded me of myself when we created the original films."

"Everything came together beautifully," she added. "There’s one scene that is very special to me, I’m sure the audience will be able to guess which one it is once they see the movie. Stepping back into Uma was very fulfilling, and healing for me.”

Who is in the cast of Descendants: The Rise of Red?

Though several original cast members won’t return for the movie, there will be plenty of new faces in their place. Kylie Cantrall will play the titular Red, the daughter of Queen of Hearts, while Malia Baker will play Chloe Charming, the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Additionally, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Dara Reneé will play Ulyana (Ursula's sister and Uma's aunt) and Joshua Colley will play Hook, the father of Thomas Doherty’s character Harry from the original franchise.  

Plus, there are several big names playing iconic storybook characters. Rita Ora will take on the role of the Queen of Hearts, while Brandy and Paolo Montalban will reprise their roles as Cinderella and Prince Charming from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella musical television film, which premiered in 1997. 

Rounding out the cast as younger versions of the characters include Ruby Rose Turner as Young Queen of Hearts, Morgan Dudley as Young Cinderella, Tristan Padil as Young Prince Charming and Grace Narducci as Young Fairy Godmother.

What is Descendants: The Rise of Red about?

According to an official synopsis for the film, the film “finds polar opposites Red and Chloe crossing paths at a momentous celebration in Auradon when unexpected chaos breaks out.” Hoping to “prevent an impending coup, they must join forces to travel back in time, via a magical pocket watch created by the Mad Hatter’s son, to stop an event that would lead to grave consequences.”

Who is directing Descendants: The Rise of Red?

While Kenny Ortega directed the first three films, the upcoming movie will be helmed by Jennifer Phang, whose credits include The Flight Attendant, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Boys. Phang will also co-produce with Suzanne Todd and Gary Marsh serving as executive producers. Dan Frey and Russell Sommer have also written the script. 

When did Descendants: The Rise of Red film?

In January 2023, Disney announced that production for the film was underway by posting a behind-the-scenes clip of the cast in the studio. 

Is there a trailer for Descendants: The Rise of Red?

In March 2024, PEOPLE exclusively debuted the first teaser trailer for Descendants: The Rise of Red, which features Uma as the Principal of Auradon Prep. Promising to shake things up in her new role, she reveals that she’ll be opening Auradon Prep to “all the kingdoms” including Wonderland. 

As she addresses a personal letter to Princess Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, we get the first glimpse of Kylie Cantrall as the film’s titular character. 

In April, Disney shared another teaser for the upcoming film, which shows Red and Chloe meeting for the first time. As Red graffitis the hall with neon paint, she informs Chloe that she'll be her new roommate at Auradon.

In May, the official trailer was released, which shows how Red and Chloe go on their time-traveling quest. After the Queen of Hearts threatens to kill Cinderella, their daughters team up to use a magic clock to change the past. However, they end up going a little bit further back in time to when their parents were in school. It's then revealed that they must stop Ulyana (Ursula's sister and Uma's aunt) from turning the Queen of Hearts bad, without altering the fabric of time in the process.

Where will Descendants: The Rise of Red be available to watch? 

Unlike the first three films, which premiered on Disney Channel, Descendants: The Rise of Red will be released exclusively on Disney+. 

When will Descendants: The Rise of Red be released?

The movie will be released on Disney+ on July 12, 2024.