A Conversation with the Cast of ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’

Key Art for ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ Courtesy of Disney.

​The latest chapter in the Descendants saga is available to stream on Disney+ right now, and to properly celebrate the arrival of Descendants: The Rise of Red, we sat down with cast members, Kylie Cantrell (Red), Malia Baker (Chloe), Ruby Rose Turner (Bridget), Morgan Dudley (Ella), and Dara Reneé (Uliana) to discuss this movie and its wonderful messaging.

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Kylie Cantrell and Malia Baker

Kylie Cantrell as Red in DESCENDANTS: THE RISE OF RED. (Photo Courtesy of Kwaku Alston/Disney.)

Malia Baker as Chloe in DESCENDANTS: THE RISE OF RED. (Photo Courtesy of Kwaku Alston/Disney.)

John Betancourt: What does it mean to each of you to be part of such a storied Disney franchise?
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Kylie Cantrell: Oof. I mean some pressure when you put it like that, yeah, I think it's honestly like a pressure that I think I put on myself just because I'm like, “Guys, you can't touch the Descendants, the franchise is already perfect.” Like, I was such a fan of the films growing up, so I feel so similar to the fans of like, “don't mess this up.” We gotta do it justice, which I think that that's a bit of a tricky mindset to have because of the fact that this is a new story. It's a complete new, new reimagined, of course, it's the same world and where there's many nods to the older films, and that's done in a tasteful way, but essentially, it's a new movie and I think there was so much creative freedom in that and just getting to have fun and introduce these new characters that you know of, but they haven't been told in this way and imagined in this scenario. So, I think there was just so much liberty that we got to take with, you know, our characters, and it was just so iconic and fun.

Malia Baker: I mean, that kinda covers it. But yeah, I feel like, as much as a tricky mindset it is to have it was so prevalent on set and creating the story and these characters that, yeah, we don't want to mess up the old ones, which I feel like holds so true, to a testament to what we did. I feel like we didn't.  I really, I love this movie. I loved working on it, and I loved what came out of it. So, I feel like to everybody that was an old fan that watched the older ones, I truly hope that you're able to love and find this new place in your heart for this one, because it does. It's all the best parts of the older ones in this new, reimagined, new light. So, I think it's fun. I think I really hope people enjoy it.

John Betancourt: I’m also curious what message you hope audiences take away from this film.

Malia Baker: I feel like the themes that have stuck in my head the most are the female friendships in it. I feel like they're so strong throughout this movie. I feel like the mother daughter theme is a huge one that I think is so interesting, and I love talking about it because it's so versatile within the contrast between Chloe and Red and there are different relationships with our mothers, but also that our differences really push towards an equal ending and an equal outcome that we want to have. We hate each other at the start of the movie, but we end up loving each other by the end of it, and it's fueled by this motivation for, let's save our moms. Let's, like, get the pocket watch. Let's go back in time so we can solve this, which I think hopefully people will be able to take away even small chapters in their life.
 
Kylie Cantrell: I mean, I would say just that. I second that I think it is all about girl power. And, I mean, me and Malia talked about this. It's really cool that with this film in particular, aside from the other original films, there's no love story, like it's really just badass girls that are going on this journey, they come together. Hate each other in the beginning, but they learn to love each other, and, you know, kind of celebrate each other's differences by the end, instead of kind of judging each other for it, which I think is special. And there's something to take from that for every girl out there.

Dara Renée, Ruby Rose Turner, and Morgan Dudley

Dara Renée as Uliana in DESCENDANTS: THE RISE OF RED. (Photo Courtesy of Kwaku Alston/Disney.)

Ruby Rose Turner as Bridget in DESCENDANTS: THE RISE OF RED. (Photo Courtesy of Kwaku Alston/Disney.)

Morgan Dudley as Ella in DESCENDANTS: THE RISE OF RED. (Photo Courtesy of Kwaku Alston/Disney.)

John Betancourt: What does it mean to be part of this storied franchise?
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Morgan Dudley: Wow, oh my God. So unreal. I don't think like… as much as it's been my dream since I was little, I don't think I ever could see it actualized until it did. I'm just really grateful that to be here and to be here with such freaking amazing people. I'm just, yeah.
 
Ruby Rose Turner: Like, until I’m sat in that theater, watching it, it hasn’t happened yet.
 
Dara Renée: I literally feel like we're all just such hardcore fans, so the fact that we're a part of something that we love so much is truly, like, it's a mind Twister.
 
John Betancourt: If there’s one message you hope the audience takes away from this film, what would it be?
 
Morgan Dudley: I think I would want audiences to just take away that they can be whoever they want to be, and they are not tied down to their circumstances. And yeah, take the lessons that life throws at you and make them their own. When life gives you lemons, you make what? Lemonade.
 
Ruby Rose Turner: I agree. I feel like life comes from you, not at you. I feel like life is sweeter when you are. I feel like, you know, I'm gonna take a little bit of Bridget's advice.
 
Dara Renée: Yeah, I 100% agree. I mean, you make mistakes for a reason. It makes you a better person. You learn who you are and develop the version of yourself as you go through the pathways that's created for you.
 
John Betancourt: What are you each most proud of when it comes to your work on this?
 
Ruby Rose Turner: Like everybody else, yeah, absolutely everybody else, the most talented cast, crew, everybody. Like, I'm like the last part of this, because I'm so obsessed with everybody else.
 
Morgan Dudley: I also like, I am so proud of us. I feel like we really brought the story to life. I really feel like we all dug our claws into our characters and, like, brought out one of the best versions that it could be. So, I'm really grateful.
 
Dara Renée: I'm excited for people to see the music. I can’t wait. We love the music.
 
Morgan Dudley: And shout out to everybody who was a part of the creative process, because these songs are they're banging.
 
Dara Renée: They’re bops.
 
John Betancourt: The last question I have for you today, if you had to describe this movie in one word, what would that word be?
 
Ruby Rose Turner: Captivating.
 
Dara Renée: Mischievous.
 
Morgan Dudley: Wicked.
 
These interviews have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.