Lyla Dejesus
The animated TV special Descendants: The Royal Wedding aired on Disney Channel on August 13, 2021. The special brought viewers back to the United States of Auradon and featured the wedding of Mal and King Ben, played by Dove Cameron and Mitchell Hope. The special also honoured the late Cameron Boyce, who played Carlos De Vil in the franchise. Following the release of Descendants: The Royal Wedding, fans speculated about the future of the franchise, with some calling for a fourth movie.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | Descendants: The Royal Wedding |
| Type | Animated television special |
| Channel | Disney Channel |
| Date of release | 13 August 2021 |
| Plot | Mal and Ben's royal wedding |
| Cast | Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Mitchell Hope, Sarah Jeffery, Melanie Paxson, China Anne McClain, Jedidiah Goodacre, Anna Cathcart, Dan Payne, Bobby Moynihan, Cheyenne Jackson, etc. |
| No. of viewers | 0.65 million |
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What You'll Learn
Dove Cameron reprises her role as Mal
The special brought viewers back to the United States of Auradon, where Mal and her friends prepared for her royal wedding. It was confirmed that Cameron would be reprising her role as early as March 2021, when she spoke about the challenges of returning to the franchise without Cameron Boyce, who played Carlos and had passed away in 2019.
In an interview with the Zach Sang Show in April 2021, Sofia Carson, who played Evie, also confirmed that the original cast would be returning for the special. She said, "I honestly couldn't have imagined doing a live-action without him… You have no idea [how hard it was]. Yeah, it was tough."
The decision to make the special animated was partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Carson explained: "As you can imagine how incredibly difficult it was for us to do this without Cam. We just hope that when people watch this, they feel happy and they feel connected to the characters and, of course, to our Cam."
Despite some fans' disappointment with the animated format, the special was a success, reaching 0.65 million viewers. It also marked the end of the original Descendants storyline, with the subsequent film, 'Descendants: The Rise of Red', featuring a brand new cast.
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Hades threatens to ruin the wedding
The animated short prequel to the Descendants film franchise, "Descendants: The Royal Wedding", follows the wedding of Mal and King Ben. The couple finally ties the knot after their magical proposal in the third movie. However, the wedding is threatened by Hades, who intends to ruin it for Mal.
The prequel was released on the Disney Channel's YouTube channel in November 2020. Dove Cameron reprises her role as Mal, and the special also features Sofia Carson. The cast claimed that producing the animated special was easier due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While some fans were disappointed by the animation style, others welcomed it as a new chapter in the Descendants franchise. The special is dedicated to the late Cameron Boyce, who played Carlos in the film series. Boyce's absence presented a challenge for the cast and crew, but they hoped that viewers would still feel connected to the characters.
The prequel serves as a bridge to future Descendants stories and characters. It sets the stage for potential new compelling narratives and introduces new villains. The special also paves the way for the upcoming sequel "Descendants: Wicked Wonderland", scheduled for release in summer 2026.
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Cameron Boyce's absence is addressed
Descendants: The Royal Wedding, the fourth instalment in the Descendants film series, was released in 2021 as an animated television special. It focuses on the wedding of Mal and Ben.
The special honours the late Cameron Boyce, who played Carlos, one of the main characters in the first three films. Boyce died in 2019 at the age of 20 due to complications from epilepsy.
In the special, Boyce's absence is addressed several times. Mal, for instance, expresses that she wishes Carlos was with them for the occasion. Additionally, she receives a wedding present from the VKs that includes all four of their family crests, with Evie noting that it represents "the four VKs, linked together forever". After the wedding, Mal glances down at her charm bracelet, where Carlos' family crest is glowing, causing the VKs to smile.
A tribute card with Boyce's picture is also shown before the credits, with the message, "In memory of our friend Cameron Boyce".
Descendants: The Rise of Red, a spin-off of the first three films, was released in 2024. It is the first live-action movie in the franchise since Boyce's death. In it, Boyce's character's absence is alluded to but never explicitly stated. During a conversation between Uma and the former-head Fairy Godmother, the latter expresses concern about opening Auradon Prep to all VKs. Uma, looking at a photo of Boyce's character, reminds her that "it's what Carlos would have wanted".
Cast members of The Rise of Red have spoken about the difficulty of filming without Boyce. They have also emphasised the importance of his character to the Descendants franchise.
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The wedding is animated
Descendants: The Royal Wedding is an animated television special that aired on Disney Channel on August 13, 2021. The special brings viewers back to the United States of Auradon and centres on the wedding of Mal and King Ben, the power couple of Auradon.
The animated format allowed the cast to reprise their roles during the COVID pandemic. However, the absence of Cameron Boyce, who played Carlos, due to his untimely death in 2019, was acknowledged in the storyline, and his memory was honoured in the broadcast.
The special starts with Mal preparing for her wedding while practising her vows. Evie serves as her dressmaker, Dizzy does her hair, and Audrey works as the party planner. Ben arrives, but the others try to prevent him from seeing Mal due to the superstition that it is bad luck. Ben then reveals that he has brought Maleficent with him, and Mal discloses that her father, Hades, will also be in attendance.
The official description of the special by Disney states:
> "Descendants: The Royal Wedding invites viewers to Auradon’s most anticipated social soiree — Mal and King Ben’s wedding. Happily ever after continues for Auradon's power couple as they prepare to say 'I do' at an epic celebration with their friends and family, but Hades threatens to ruin it all."
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A possible spinoff teased
The "Descendants" franchise has been a huge success for Disney, with the original trilogy accumulating over 781 million viewing hours in the United States alone. Given this popularity, it is no surprise that Disney has continued to develop new content and expand the "Descendants" universe.
In August 2021, Disney Channel aired an animated television special titled "Descendants: The Royal Wedding," which brought back the popular characters Mal and King Ben for their highly anticipated wedding. This special served as a continuation of the story from the first three movies and provided a satisfying conclusion for fans.
However, what came next was perhaps even more intriguing. The final scene of "Descendants: The Royal Wedding" teased a possible new era for the franchise. In this scene, viewers saw a cluster of white roses painted red, leading down a rabbit hole. This imagery sparked intense speculation among fans, with many believing that it hinted at a potential spinoff involving elements from "Alice in Wonderland."
While Disney has not yet confirmed these rumors, the speculation among fans has been rampant. Some have taken to social media to express their excitement and support for a potential "Descendants" and "Alice in Wonderland" crossover, with one fan even stating, "Descendants meets Alice in Wonderland could finally be happening, and my dreams are coming true!"
Whether or not this spinoff comes to fruition, the "Descendants" franchise has clearly captured the imagination of its audience, and with its strong following, it is likely that Disney will continue to explore new directions and possibilities for this beloved series.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there will. It is titled 'Descendants: The Royal Wedding' and it aired on Disney Channel on 13 August 2021.
The animated special features Mal and King Ben's wedding.
Dove Cameron reprises her role as Mal, and Mitchell Hope plays King Ben. Other cast members include Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Sarah Jeffery, Melanie Paxson, China Anne McClain, Jedidiah Goodacre, Anna Cathcart, Dan Payne, and Bobby Moynihan.
