Descendants 2
Sequel to Descendants, premiered July 21, 2017.
Descendants 2 is a musical fantasy TV movie from America, written by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott and directed by Kenny Ortega. It follows the 2015 film *Descendants* and is the second part of the *Descendants* series. The movie stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Mitchell Hope, and China Anne McClain. It first aired as a Disney Channel Original Movie on July 21, 2017, and was shown at the same time on other Disney-owned channels like ABC, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movies. A third film, *Descendants 3*, came out on August 2, 2019.
In the story, Mal is having a hard time adjusting to her new life as King Ben’s girlfriend. She puts a spell on her hair to make it blonde and feels forced to act like a perfect princess everywhere. She talks to her friends Evie, Carlos, and Jay about her problems, but they are happy with their new lives in Auradon. Evie tells Mal off for always using her mother’s spell book to fix things. Carlos wants to ask Jane to the Cotillion dance and asks Mal for help. She gives him a candy that makes him tell the truth, but his dog, Dude, eats it and starts speaking blunt English.
Ben eventually finds out Mal is still using magic, and she admits her insecurities, which causes a fight. Mal goes back to the Isle of the Lost, now run by her old rival Uma, Ursula’s daughter, along with Harry and Gil, the sons of Captain Hook and Gaston. Mal visits hairstylist Dizzy Tremaine, Drizella’s daughter, who gives her back her purple hair with bangs. Harry learns Mal is back and tells Uma.
Ben, Evie, Jay, and Carlos find out Mal left and sneak onto the Isle to find her, but Gil spots them. Ben confronts Mal, who says she doesn’t want to be with him for his sake and Auradon’s. He leaves upset and gets captured by Uma. Mal and Uma arm wrestle for Ben and Fairy Godmother’s wand, and Uma wins. Uma then orders Mal and her friends to get the real Fairy Godmother’s wand in exchange for Ben’s safe return.
Carlos and Jay go back to Auradon Prep and use a 3D printer to make a fake wand. Lonnie, Mulan’s daughter, catches them and blackmails them into letting her come because she was earlier rejected from Jay’s sports team for being a girl.
Uma tells Ben she’s bitter that she and others weren’t chosen to go to Auradon. He invites her, but she plans to get there on her own.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Musical fantasy
- Writer
- Josann McGibbon / Sara Parriott
- Director
- Kenny Ortega
- Starring
- Dove Cameron / Cameron Boyce / Sofia Carson / Booboo Stewart / China Anne McClain
- Composer
- David Lawrence
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Executive Producer
- Wendy Japhet / Josann McGibbon / Sara Parriott / Kenny Ortega
- Editor
- Don Brochu
- Cinematography
- Mark Irwin
- Runtime
- 111 minutes
- Company
- Bad Angels Productions / 5678 Productions / Disney Channel Original Productions
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film follows Mal, daughter of Maleficent, as she struggles with her new celebrity life as the girlfriend of King Ben. She puts a spell on her hair making it blonde and tries to maintain an uncomfortable princess-like personality. After a falling-out with Ben over her reliance on magic, Mal returns to the Isle of the Lost, now ruled by her former rival Uma, daughter of Ursula, along with Harry Hook and Gil. Ben, Evie, Carlos, and Jay follow her to the Isle, but Ben is captured by Uma, who demands Fairy Godmother's wand in exchange for his safe return. The group creates a replica wand using a 3D printer, but Uma discovers the forgery. During the Cotillion, Ben appears with Uma, declaring her his true love, but Mal realizes he has been given a love potion and breaks the spell with a kiss. Uma transforms into a sea monster using Ursula's magic seashell necklace, and Mal fights her as a dragon. Ben intervenes, and Uma leaves. Mal surrenders her spell book to Fairy Godmother, and Evie requests that Dizzy Tremaine be allowed to attend Auradon Prep, which is granted.
Reader's Guide
Descendants 2 is significant as the second installment in the Descendants franchise, expanding the story of the children of Disney villains and heroes. The film introduced new characters such as Uma, Harry Hook, and Gil, and featured a post-credits scene that foreshadowed a further sequel. It was viewed by 8.92 million viewers across six networks on its premiere night, with at least 13 million people watching a minute of the film. The film's soundtrack and home media release were commercially successful, with the DVD selling 837,912 copies and generating $13 million. The film's legacy includes continuing the franchise's exploration of identity, belonging, and the choice between good and evil, themes that resonated with its young audience.
Did You Know?
- The post-credits scene featuring Uma addressing the audience was not in the original script but was added to foreshadow a possible further sequel.
- Whoopi Goldberg provided the voice for Ursula, the Sea Witch and Uma's mother.
- Filming took place from September 8, 2016, to October 27, 2016, mostly in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
- The film was simulcast on six Disney-owned networks: Disney Channel, Disney XD, Freeform, ABC, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movies.
More in Films based on fairy tales 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced