or


[05/10/22 - 11:00 AM]
"The Pocketwatch," A Music-Filled Disney+ Movie, Will Expand the World Created by the "Descendants" Megahit Franchise
Lauded filmmaker Jennifer Phang is set to direct and is co-executive producer of the movie which is scheduled to begin production in the fall from a script written by Dan Frey and Russell Sommer.

[via press release from Disney+]

"THE POCKETWATCH," A MUSIC-FILLED DISNEY+ MOVIE, WILL EXPAND THE WORLD CREATED BY THE "DESCENDANTS" MEGAHIT FRANCHISE

Introducing Red, Teen Daughter of the Iconic Queen of Hearts ('Alice in Wonderland'); and Chloe, Teen Daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming ('Cinderella')

Award-winning Filmmaker Jennifer Phang ("Advantageous," "Half-Life") is Set to Direct

BURBANK, Calif. (May 10, 2022) Today, Disney+ announced "The Pocketwatch" (working title), a newly greenlit music- and dance-filled original movie from Disney Branded Television, will expand the fantastic world created in "Descendants," the global entertainment megahit franchise that introduced the teenage sons and daughters of Disney's most iconic classic characters and infamous villains. Seven new songs and Disney classic songs will advance the story.

Lauded filmmaker Jennifer Phang ("Advantageous," "Half-Life," "Foundation," "The Flight Attendant") is set to direct and is co-executive producer of the movie which is scheduled to begin production in the fall from a script written by Dan Frey and Russell Sommer ("Magic: The Gathering"). Returning to the franchise is production designer Mark Hofeling ("Descendants," "Zombies," "High School Musical"). Gary Marsh is an executive producer and the casting directors are Alexis Frank Koczara and Christine Smith Shevchenko (Disney Branded Television's upcoming "The Naughty Nine," "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers," "black-ish" and "grown-ish").

"With a captivating script and Jennifer Phang's directorial vision, we're setting a new high bar of creativity and imagination, with a movie that ups the ante on story, song and dance to entertain young viewers, their families, and the global fan base that grew up with the aspirational story of 'Descendants,' said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television. "We join them in anticipation as we prepare to deliver a great new entertainment experience to Disney+."

Regarding directing the upcoming movie, Phang said, "'The Pocketwatch' presents a delightful canvas with fantastical world building. Musicals sparked my imagination when I was a kid and are a huge part of what drew me to filmmaking. I think that's because they have a way of conveying these lovely, nuanced ideas through song and expressive movement. I'm also always inspired by the diversity of families that exist all around the world. So I really jumped at the chance to craft a supercharged musical experience and explore some new, invigorating themes inside an expansive Disney universe."

The "Descendants" movies unfurled an imaginative mythology of two new lands, idyllic Auradon and ragtag Isle of the Lost, home to the teenage progeny of Disney's most iconic characters and notably, its most notorious villains. The bold new story of "The Pocketwatch" returns to these lands and also takes audiences through the rabbit hole to the hostile unincorporated territory of Wonderland, a magical, mysterious place made famous in "Alice in Wonderland."

The expansive new story introduces "Red," the whip-smart and rebellious teenage daughter of the Queen of Hearts ("Alice in Wonderland") and "Chloe," the perfectionist and athletic daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming ("Cinderella"). In order to prevent an impending coup in Auradon - one that looms during the celebration of a new royal baby --, Red must join forces with Chloe to travel in back in time, via the White Rabbit's pocket watch, to stop an event that would lead to grave consequences.

Jennifer Rogers Doyle, senior vice president, Franchise and Integrated Planning, Networks, Disney Media Entertainment and Distribution, said, "'Descendants' ushered in a new world of stories and characters that tapped into what parents and kids love, a contemporary story with familiarity. The fan engagement and high demand for extensions of 'Descendants' continues because viewers have a very special relationship with the core characters and not just because they love the way they look, but because they are relevant, heroic figures, and soon, they'll be invited to meet 'Red' and 'Chloe."

A remarkable force in youth entertainment, each premiere telecast of a "Descendants" movie ranks as the most-watched cable movie of the year (2015, 2017, 2019) among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. Disney Channel's premiere of "Descendants 3" delivered more viewers than its 2017 predecessor -- 11.2 million vs. 10.9 million Total Viewers (L+7). All three live-action movies, an animated spin-off series, "Descendants: Wicked World," an animated special, "Descendants 2: The Royal Wedding," and the live-action "Under the Sea: A Descendants Short Story" are available on Disney+.

Extending the storytelling, the first two movie soundtracks are certified gold and the third soundtrack was #1 on the Billboard Soundtrack chart for four weeks, #1 on the Children's Album Chart and reached #24 on the Billboard Top 200. Music videos from the "Descendants" franchise boast 5.5 billion Vevo views, 11 billion audio and video streams and 2.7 billion TikTok views.

Nearly 7 million dolls and 9 million "Descendants" books including four New York Times Best Sellers were sold, and Halloween costumes were #1 and #2 best-selling costumes in 2015 and 2016 and among Disney's Top 5 licensed costumes for seven consecutive years (2015-2021). In early 2020, Disney Theatrical Productions and Music Theatre International began licensing "Descendants: The Musical" for performers and audiences of all ages.

About Disney+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the new general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ is part of the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution segment. The service offers commercial-free streaming alongside an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney's long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

About Disney Branded Television

Disney Branded Television is a provider of original content - scripted and unscripted, live-action and animated - for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, with a primary focus on imaginative, aspirational stories geared towards kids, tweens, teens and families. Among Disney Branded Television's upcoming premieres are the original movie "Sneakerella," "Zombies 3," "National Treasure," "American Born Chinese," "The Crossover," "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," "The Spiderwick Chronicles," "Saturdays," "The Santa Clause," and the feature documentary "Mickey: Story of a Mouse."





  [may 2022]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· DESCENDANTS (DISNEY)
· DESCENDANTS 2 (DISNEY)
· DESCENDANTS 3 (DISNEY)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.