Hidden Heroes : A Descendants Story on Disney+
The Descendants franchise just keeps growing. After "Descendants : Wicked Wonderland" topped Disney+ viewing charts during its release week, Disney wasted no time greenlit a fresh chapter in the saga. The new project is called "Hidden Heroes : A Descendants Story", and it's heading to both Disney+ and the Disney Channel. Production kicks off next week, with a likely arrival on our screens sometime in 2027.
Sidekicks finally get their moment in the spotlight
The whole premise flips the classic Disney formula on its head. Instead of following princes, princesses or even full-blown villains, "Hidden Heroes" centers on the descendants of the most underrated characters in Disney history : the sidekicks. We're talking about iconic supporting figures from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and The Emperor's New Groove. Characters who spent decades in the background are now front and center.
The story follows a group of young recruits at a secret facility called the Sidekick Academy, hidden inside portals tucked within fairy tale worlds. When a villainous duo threatens the entire realm, these kids, without their parents and without traditional heroes to back them up, must rely on their newly acquired skills to save everything. It's a coming-of-age story wrapped in action, music and the kind of emotional stakes the franchise is known for.
Here's a look at the main cast and the characters they'll be playing :
- Dior Goodjohn (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) as Jennie, daughter of Genie from Aladdin
- Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club) as Zara, daughter of Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove
- Jacob Rodriguez (Tell Me Lies) as Kronk Jr., son of Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove
- Eva Fossaceca Smedley (Welcome to Flatch) as Meri, daughter of Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty
- Harry Jones (Bury Your Nephew) as Lou, son of Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast
- Rhys Dawkins, Connor Wong and Kyra Wong as the Potts Siblings, also from Beauty and the Beast
The casting strategy here is deliberate. Bringing in younger, emerging talent keeps the franchise fresh and relevant to its core audience. It's the same approach that made the original films work so well with younger viewers.
A production backed by serious franchise experience
Jude Weng takes the director's chair, known for her work on Only Murders in the Building and the Disney+ film Finding 'Ohana. The screenplay comes from a trio of writers : Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye and Emma Fletcher. Chestna also serves as executive producer alongside Gary Marsh, both of whom worked on Descendants : Wicked Wonderland. Mark Ordesky and Jane Fleming, veterans of ZOMBIES 4 : Dawn of the Vampires, round out the executive producing team. Choreography is handled by Louise Hradsky and Jeffrey Mortensen.
The film sits under the Disney Kids & Family banner, with Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, explaining the creative direction clearly : "One of the things that has always made 'Descendants' so special is the way it invites audiences to experience familiar Disney stories through an entirely new perspective. With 'Hidden Heroes,' we're finally putting the sidekicks center stage, because they've always been an essential part of Disney's greatest adventures."
That quote captures exactly what makes this concept compelling. Sidekicks like Lumiere or Merryweather were never minor characters in terms of story function. Giving their children a leading role feels like a logical, long-overdue evolution for the universe. Davis also confirmed the film will carry the signature elements fans expect : music, dance and emotional storytelling.
| Role | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Jude Weng | Only Murders in the Building, Finding 'Ohana |
| Screenplay | Chestna, Faye & Fletcher | Tamara Chestna also executive produces |
| Executive Producers | Ordesky, Fleming, Marsh, Chestna | All with prior Descendants or ZOMBIES experience |
| Choreographers | Hradsky & Mortensen | Handling all musical sequences |
| Production banner | Disney Kids & Family | Led by Ayo Davis |
Where the franchise stands and what to watch while you wait
The numbers behind Descendants are hard to ignore. Across linear television and streaming in the US, the franchise has accumulated over 1 billion hours of total viewing. That's not a trend, that's a proven audience. Wicked Wonderland debuted as the most-watched film on Disney+ during its release week, which explains why the platform moved quickly to confirm Hidden Heroes.
While we wait for 2027, all previous Descendants films are currently available on Disney+, grouped together in the dedicated Descendants Collection. That includes the concert special The Descendants/ZOMBIES Worlds Collide. For anyone tracking what's available and where, that collection is easy to locate directly on the platform right now.
Disney has also been expanding its original content strategy across multiple genres and formats. Fans of Disney+ originals that premiered at major international festivals like CANNESERIES will recognize this same appetite for fresh storytelling built around distinct character perspectives.
If you've been loosely following the franchise, now is a good time to catch up. "Hidden Heroes : A Descendants Story" looks like it's building on solid ground, with an experienced production team, a concept that genuinely expands the universe, and a cast of young performers ready to carry it forward. Keep an eye on Disney+ in 2027.