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Descendants: The Rise of Red

Descendants: The Rise of Red is a 2024 American musical fantasy comedy film and the fourth installment in Disney's Descendants franchise.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Descendants: The Rise of Red is a 2024 American musical fantasy comedy film and the fourth installment in Disney's Descendants franchise. The film follows Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, the daughter of Cinderella, as they travel back in time to prevent a crisis in Auradon. It premiered on Disney+ on July 12, 2024, and later aired on Disney Channel on August 9, 2024.

Premise

The film follows Red and Chloe as they attempt to prevent a disaster affecting Auradon and Wonderland by traveling back in time. The story expands the franchise’s fairytale universe with characters drawn from Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella.

Production and release

Disney confirmed a fourth Descendants film in 2021, and the project later developed under the working title The Pocketwatch before being released as The Rise of Red. It premiered on Disney+ in July 2024 and received a Disney Channel broadcast in August 2024.

Cast and characters

The film introduces new leads including Red and Chloe while bringing back some familiar characters from earlier installments, including Uma and Fairy Godmother. The cast also includes returning reinterpretations of classic Disney characters such as Cinderella and the Queen of Hearts.

Franchise context

The Rise of Red continues the Descendants series, which reimagines the children of Disney villains and heroes in a shared setting called Auradon. It follows the earlier films and the television special The Royal Wedding.

Key facts

  • It is the fourth film in the Descendants franchise.
  • The story centers on Red, the Queen of Hearts' daughter, and Chloe, Cinderella's daughter.
  • The plot involves time travel using the White Rabbit’s pocketwatch to alter events in the past.
  • The film was released on Disney+ on July 12, 2024 and on Disney Channel on August 9, 2024.
  • Jennifer Phang directed the film.
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Canadian context

The film is relevant to Canadian viewers through its availability on Disney+ in Canada, where Disney+ is a major streaming platform for family entertainment.

Frequently asked questions

Is Descendants 4 the same as The Rise of Red?
Yes. The fourth Descendants film was ultimately released under the title Descendants: The Rise of Red.
When was Descendants: The Rise of Red released?
It premiered on Disney+ on July 12, 2024, and aired on Disney Channel on August 9, 2024.
Who directed Descendants: The Rise of Red?
Jennifer Phang directed the film.
What is the story about?
It follows Red, the Queen of Hearts’ daughter, and Chloe, Cinderella’s daughter, as they travel back in time to prevent a crisis in Auradon.
What was the working title of the film?
The film was developed under the working title The Pocketwatch.

References

  1. BBC Newsround — https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c1e5ppz2kl4o
    Supports: Identifies the film as the fourth installment and summarizes the premise involving Red and Chloe.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descendants:_The_Rise_of_Red
    Supports: Provides release date, director, franchise placement, and development history.
  3. TheWrap — https://www.thewrap.com/how-to-watch-descendants-4-rise-of-red-streaming/
    Supports: Gives release and broadcast details, premise, and returning cast information.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/descendants-the-rise-of-red
    Supports: Confirms the plot setup involving Red and Chloe and the Disney+ release date.
  5. Disney+ — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pk4-lzowDM
    Supports: Official trailer confirming the title and July 12 streaming release.