Descendants 3

Descendants 3, a musical fantasy television film from 2019, was directed by Kenny Ortega and penned by Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon. As the follow-up to *Descendants 2* (2017), it marks the third chapter of the *Descendants* series and concludes the storyline centered on Mal (played by Dove Cameron) and her companions. The cast also includes Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Cheyenne Jackson, China Anne McClain, and Sarah Jeffery. Disney Channel first aired the movie on August 2, 2019, with international releases beginning October 12, 2019. A subsequent animated special, *Descendants: The Royal Wedding*, came out in 2021, and a fourth film featuring new characters, *Descendants: The Rise of Red*, debuted in 2024.

The plot follows Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos as they travel to the Isle of the Lost to select four new villain kids (VKs) for Auradon: Dizzy (Lady Tremaine’s granddaughter), Celia (Dr. Facilier’s daughter), and the twin sons of Mr. Smee, Squeaky and Squirmy. On the pickup day, Mal’s boyfriend Ben, Auradon’s king, proposes, and she accepts. This sparks jealousy in Ben’s ex-girlfriend Audrey, whose grandmother Queen Leah scolds her for failing to marry Ben and secure the family legacy. While the older VKs return with the new kids, Hades tries to breach the Isle’s barrier, but Mal stops him. Still resentful, Audrey steals the Queen’s crown and Maleficent’s scepter from a museum, gaining dark powers and turning villainous. After the theft and Hades’ escape attempt, Mal suggests permanently closing the Isle’s barrier to protect Auradon.

Audrey curses Mal with the scepter, aging her into an old woman. To break the curse, Mal and the other VKs seek Hades’ Ember, the only artifact strong enough to counter the scepter. On the Isle, where dark magic is banned, the curse lifts, and Celia guides Mal to Hades’ lair. Hades, revealed as Mal’s absentee father, reluctantly gives her the Ember but warns it may not work fully for her since she is only “half Hades,” and advises keeping it dry. Leaving the Isle, Mal’s group meets Uma, Gil, and Harry, who agree to help after Mal falsely promises to free all Isle children.

Back in Auradon, Audrey crashes Jane’s birthday party with a sleeping curse, and Chad sides with her while Jane escapes into an enchanted lake. As the kingdom falls under Audrey’s spell, she offers to reverse it if Ben marries her.