Brandy is set to reprise her most beloved Disney role in the upcoming spinoff movie Descendants: The Rise of Red. The actress previously played Cinderella in a 1997 live-action musical, which was adapted from the Rodgers and Hammerstein show inspired by the famous fairy tale, and her casting was a groundbreaking move in inclusivity and representation. Now, joined by Paolo Montalban, who played Prince Christopher in that decades-old TV movie, Brandy will reprise her role in the fourth live-action Descendants movie, which was previously titled Descendants: The Pocketwatch.
While there is still no release date for the spinoff, the anticipation for Descendants: The Rise of Red is due in part to Brandy’s return as Cinderella as well as its unique look at younger versions of Jasmin and Aladdin, among other Disney characters, as it transports audiences to pre-Auradon Prep days. Descendants: The Rise of Red is largely inspired by Alice in Wonderland and will follow the daughters of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora) and Cinderella as they travel back in time to prevent a devastating event. With Brandy’s Cinderella, now a mother and married to Montalban’s King Charming, fans can enjoy an extra layer of Disney nostalgia.
Is Brandy’s Cinderella In Descendants: The Rise Of Red The Same One?
While Brandy’s Cinderella brought important representation to the famous role as it was the first time a Black actress donned the glass slippers, it also explored the empowering angle of seeing the title character motivated by more than love. While the extent of Cinderella’s presence in Descendants: The Rise of Red is not clear yet, Brandy’s portrayal won’t be the exact same as the one fans are familiar with from the 1997 TV movie. According to a press release from Disney+, the Descendants spinoff will also include a younger version of Cinderella played by Morgan Dudley in the scenes set in the past.
Additionally, because the Descendants: The Rise of Red‘s version of Cinderella is a mother and queen, some key characteristics may differ, perhaps with a stronger focus on maternal instincts or regal matters for the character. Moreover, because of the natural age change, Brandy’s original Cinderella portrayal also differs in terms of fashion. In an Instagram post shared by Brandy, she wears a voluminous, sleeved, blue gown and crown, whereas her 1997 version wore a pale, shimmery, off-the-shoulder gown. Despite obvious changes, seeing Brandy reprising her role as Cinderella in any capacity is worth the hype considering her cultural impact as the character.
How Disney Could Do A Sequel To Brandy’s 1997 Cinderella
Since the film’s focus is on Cinderella’s daughter rather than the iconic Disney Princess, the studio cleverly opens space to revisit Brandy’s return to the role beyond Descendants: The Rise Of Red. Following Chloe (Malia Baker), Cinderella’s daughter, is a fresh way to extend the beloved 1997 adaptation while still exploring new talent. Plus, using the successful Descendants franchise is a good way to ease long-standing fans into a sequel for Brandy’s 1997 Cinderella movie without having to retcon existing lore. A sequel could expand on Chloe beyond the events of Descendants: The Rise of Red as well as Cinderella’s role as a mother and queen in more detail.
With the 1997 Cinderella being such a culturally resonant film for not only Disney Princesses and Hollywood representation, revisiting Brandy’s version now is an enticing way to explore more worlds in the Descendants universe, namely Wonderland, and new Disney characters, like Chloe, while still boosting the film with the nostalgia of recognizable characters and portrayals. With Brandy’s inclusion in Descendants: The Rise of Red, there’s hope for more content with the actress bringing her version of Cinderella new life and stories in additional movies and shows.
