Disney Channel's The Descendants has found its Maleficent.
Broadway, television and film star Kristin Chenoweth will play the iconic character in the live-action original TV movie centered on a group of Disney villains' teenage kids, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Descendants is set in a present-day idyllic kingdom, with the benevolent teenage son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle), Ben, poised to take the throne. His first proclamation: offer a chance at redemption to the trouble-making offspring of Cruella De Vil (Carlos), Maleficent (Mal), the Evil Queen (Evvie) and Jafar (Jay), who have been imprisoned on a forbidden island with the other villains, sidekicks, evil stepmothers and stepsisters.
Expect Chenoweth's Maleficent to butt horns with her onscreen daughter Mal, played by Liv and Maddie's Dove Cameron. Rounding out the ensemble cast thus far is Booboo Stewart, Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce and Mitchell Hope.
Kenny Ortega, who directed the hugely successful High School Musical franchise, will helm and do the choreography with Paul Becker. Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott (The Starter Wife, Runaway Bride, Desperate Housewives) penned the script.
Descendants begins production in late May for a 2015 bow.
Chenoweth is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and attorney James Adams.
Disney will roll out Angelina Jolie's feature film version of Maleficent on May 30.
Email: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
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