Disney+ has announced that Brandy is set to return to the role of Cinderella some 25 years on from 1997’s Walt Disney Television movie as she and fellow pop superstar Rita Ora head to the fantastical kingdom of Auradon for The Pocketwatch, the next chapter of Disney’s Descendants franchise.
The official synopsis for the Disney+ Original movie reads:
The “Descendants” movies unfurled an imaginative mythology of two new lands, idyllic Auradon and the ragtag Isle of the Lost, home to the teenage progeny of Disney’s most iconic characters and notably, its most notorious villains. The bold new story of “The Pocketwatch” returns to these lands and also takes audiences through the rabbit hole to the hostile unincorporated territory of Wonderland, a magical, mysterious place made famous in “Alice in Wonderland.”
The expansive new story finds polar opposites Red and Chloe crossing paths at a momentous celebration in Auradon when unexpected chaos breaks out. In order 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.
Brandy’s Cinderella is described as “elegant, warm, good-hearted and diplomatic”, while Ora – whose acting credits include the Fifty Shades sequels and the Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight TV series – plays the tyrannical Queen of Hearts, the iron-fisted ruler of the kingdom of Wonderland.
Joining Brandy and Rita Ora in the cast of The Pocketwatch are:
- Kylie Cantrall as “Red,” the rebellious 16 year-old daughter of the Queen of Hearts. Red knows she’ll never get the Queen’s approval, so she finds ways to provoke her mother and stir up trouble.
- Malia Baker as “Chloe,” the cheerful 16 year-old daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming, who is book smart and athletic, but her privilege makes her somewhat naive about the real world.
- China Anne McClain returns as “Uma,” daughter of the infamous sea-witch Ursula, a role she previously played in “Descendants 2” and ”Descendants 3.” Strong and fierce, Uma always fights for what she thinks is right.
- Dara Reneé as “Ulyana,” the younger sister of Ursula. She’s a teen sea-witch and mean-girl bully with eight wicked tentacles and a crew of lackeys.
- Ruby Rose Turner as “Bridget/Young Queen of Hearts,” who is sweet-natured, bubbly, generous, and the complete opposite of her grown-up self.
- Morgan Dudley as “Ella/Young Cinderella,” who is blunt, pragmatic and has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about being forced to work for her wicked stepmother.
- Joshua Colley as “Hook,” one of Ulyana’s sycophants, a rich kid with a hoop earring and a shiny hook where his left hand should be. His arrogance is only surpassed by his vanity.
- Melanie Paxson returns as “Fairy Godmother,” the wise and kind headmistress of Auradon Prep, who appeared in all three “Descendants” movies.
The Pocketwatch is being directed by Jennifer Phang (The Flight Attendant) from a scriptby Dan Frey and Russell Sommer (Magic: The Gathering).
