The latest chapter in Disney’s hit franchise, “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland,” has arrived, bringing with it a blend of magic, music, and a new generation of heroes and villains. But before the red carpet rolled out, On The Red Carpet’s Ashley Mackey traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia, in May 2025 to witness the film’s creation firsthand. What she found was a set buzzing with energy—and emotion.
It was wrap day. For Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker, the final hours of filming were bittersweet. Cantrall, who plays Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, reflected on her character’s journey. “She’s trying to be better,” Cantrall said. “But definitely, in this new timeline, people look up to her as a princess. She’s trying to define what that means for her and figure out how she can be a leader.”
The set itself was a wonderland of props and costumes. Prop master Matt Wilson had his hands full, crafting items that brought the story to life. Meanwhile, choreographer Emilio Dosal guided the cast through intricate dance numbers. “It’s a lot of work,” Dosal admitted, “but seeing it all come together is magical.”
Baker, who plays Chloe Charming, Cinderella’s daughter, emphasized the film’s deeper themes. “I feel like there’s a lot of lessons that only I’ve learned, but I’m excited to pass down for generations so that they can feel like they’re seen, represented and heard,” she said.
New characters add fresh dynamics. Liamani Segura portrays Pink, Red’s sister. “Pink is very bubbly, over-the-top, extremely glittery and sparkly. She’s just magic,” Segura said. Leonardo Nam plays Maddox Hatter, a role that lets him tap into childhood wonder. “You do look through the eyes of magic when you’re a kid. And this franchise really does offer that to the world and I’m so grateful to be a part of it,” Nam said.
Kiara Romero, who plays Hazel Hook, daughter of Captain Hook, noted the franchise’s nuanced take on villainy. “I think what’s fun about ‘Descendants’ is that villains aren’t so villainous, that’s what you realize. And they think they’re villainous but, yeah, not really,” she said.
The film also reunites musical talents. Rita Ora returns as the Queen of Hearts, and Brandy Norwood is back as Cinderella. Ora expressed her excitement about their duet. “It’s been on my BINGO card list since, I don’t know, the beginning of time? It’s like, who doesn’t want to sing with Brandy?” Ora said.
“Descendants: Wicked Wonderland” premiered Thursday, July 16 on Disney Channel and began streaming Friday on Disney+. The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Disney+ and this ABC station.
