Here's How Disney's New "Descendants" Movie Honored Cameron Boyce
This post contains spoilers.
Descendants: The Rise of Red — a spinoff of the popular Disney Channel Descendants franchise — recently dropped on Disney+. It features all-new characters with only a few actors reprising their roles from the original films — most notably China Anne McClain as Uma.
The original trilogy starred Dove Cameron as Mal, Sofia Carson as Evie, Booboo Stewart as Jay, and Cameron Boyce as Carlos.
Sadly, a month before Descendants 3 premiered in 2019, Cameron died at age 20.
Disney shared a sweet tribute to the late actor and dedicated Descendants 3 to him.
You mean everything to us ?? pic.twitter.com/yIuesmkemn
— Descendants (@descendants) August 3, 2019
Disney Channel / Via Twitter: @descendants
Dove, Sofia, and Booboo continue to honor Cameron's memory in many ways, including reuniting at The Cameron Boyce Foundation's Cam for a Cause Annual Gala every year.
Initially, Disney's plans for a fourth live-action Descendants movie were met with criticism.
However, in 2021, Dove, Sofia, and Booboo reprised their roles in the animated special Descendants: The Royal Wedding. Then, rather than make Descendants 4, Disney made a spin-off. Descendants: The Rise of Red honors Cameron's memory with a sweet, poignant moment between two returning characters.
As she's setting up her new office, movers hang a portrait of Carlos, Cameron's character.
Uma tells Fairy Godmother, the previous principal, about how she became friends with Queen Mal and King Ben, who later took down the barrier that prevented all of the villains from leaving the Isle of the Lost.
Since opening the Isle of the Lost began with inviting four Villain Kids to Auradon Prep, Uma gives Fairy Godmother an invitation for Princess Red, the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, to attend.
Uma stands firm in her decision to invite Red in honor of Carlos.
Fairy Godmother — whose daughter, Jane, was Carlos's love interest — silently agrees.
Many viewers found the scene touching.
China said returning to the Role of Uma was healing for her, and Cameron Boyce being honored in ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ was so emotional and you can see truly how important that moment was for her pic.twitter.com/cMuv2Q7daj
— JT?? (@JTsLeague) July 13, 2024
Disney+ / Via x.com
China told People, "I was apprehensive to revisit the Descendants world at first, because losing Cam was the first heartbreak I've ever experienced. But once I saw how excited the new generation of kids were, it reminded me of myself when we created the original films."
Previously, Descendants: The Royal Wedding also honored Cameron in a touching scene.