Leading into its television premiere FRIDAY, JULY 31 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT), Disney Channel’s Original Movie “Descendants” hasposted more than 1 million views on the WATCH Disney Channel app in just five days, setting records for engagement and viewingfor the app which allows consumers to watch programming anytime and anywhere via their desktop, smartphone, tablet and connected TV devices. WATCH viewers who verify with a pay TV service can also watch a live 24-hour feed of the network and access exclusive content, including the premiere of “Descendants.”
A modern-day coming-of-age adventure, “Descendants” stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart and Sofia Carson as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney’s most infamous villains. With a knowing wink at traditional fairy tales, the original live-action movie fuses castles with classrooms to create a contemporary, music-driven story about the challenges in living up to parental and peer expectations. As these sons and daughters of evil meet the children of goodness, their story incorporates empowering themes about self-confidence, finding the beauty within, freedom of choice, personal responsibility, teamwork, justice and empathy. The notable cast also includes Mitchell Hope, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Maz Jobrani, Kathy Najimy and the Tony Award-winning Kristin Chenoweth.
Disney’s “Descendants” will also usher in Disney Channel’s new comedy series “BUNK’D,” premiering immediately after the movie.
Emmy Award-winning Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical”) directs, choreographs and executive-produces Disney’s “Descendants.” Wendy Japhet (“An Education,” “The Italian Job”) is also an executive producer. Paul Becker (“So You Think You Can Dance Canada”) is the co-choreographer. The script was written by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott (creators and Emmy and WGA Award-nominated writers on “The Starter Wife”; writers of “Runaway Bride”) who are also co-producers. Mark Hofeling (“Teen Beach Movie,” “High School Musical”) is the production designer and Kara Saun (“Project Runway”) is the costume designer.
Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family-inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 96 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney ABC Television Group.