'Descendants 2': What drew audiences to the first film?
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
A sequel to the hit Disney Channel movie 鈥淒escendants鈥� is reportedly moving forward.
鈥淒escendants鈥� debuted this past summer and centers on four teenagers: Carlos, who is the son of 鈥�101 Dalmations鈥� villainess Cruella de Vil; Evie, who is the daughter of the queen from 鈥淪now White鈥�; Jay, who is the son of 鈥淎laddin鈥� villain Jafar; and Mal, who is the daughter of the 鈥淪leeping Beauty鈥� character Maleficent.
In this story, Disney villains live in a place called the Isle of the Lost, but the son of the Beast and Belle from 鈥淏eauty and the Beast鈥� allows four teenagers from the Isle of the Lost to attend school in Auradon, where other fairy tale characters live. Carlos, Evie, Jay, and Mal go to attend Auradon Prep.聽
The film co-stars Broadway actress Kristin Chenoweth as Maleficent and Kathy Najimy of 鈥淰eep鈥� as Evie鈥檚 mother.聽
The musical, directed by Kenny Ortega of 鈥淗igh School Musical鈥� and "Newsies," got great ratings for the Disney Channel and became the fifth-highest-rated cable film of all time.
The movie 鈥淒escendants鈥� echoes a strategy Disney is embracing across its properties: Fans like to watch their favorite characters team up.
The highest-grossing Marvel movies domestically are still 2012鈥檚 鈥淭he Avengers鈥� and this summer鈥檚 鈥淎vengers: Age of Ultron,鈥� films that center on superheroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor working together.聽
Disney also scored a hit in 2014 with the musical 鈥淚nto the Woods,鈥� which brings fairy tale characters like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Jack of 鈥淛ack and the Beanstalk鈥� together for one big story.
This model has proven popular with other companies as well. Netflix is steadily debuting new Marvel shows like 鈥淒aredevil,鈥� which came out earlier this year, and 鈥淛essica Jones,鈥� which comes out next month. More are on the way and will reportedly lead to a miniseries titled 鈥淭he Defenders鈥� that will have the characters of the series working together.聽
2014鈥檚 鈥淭he Lego Movie,鈥� which became a box office hit, was based on Lego characters from various franchises, including 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� and 鈥淗arry Potter,鈥� coming together to bring down a villain.聽
Meanwhile, a release date for a 鈥淒escendants鈥� sequel has not yet been announced.
