Kylie Cantrall is going out with Red this summer.
Disney has tapped the 19-year-old “Unsure” actress and singer to take its wildly successful TV movie franchise in a new direction. As a star Descendants: The Rise of Red — the fourth film in the franchise — the daughter of the Queen of Hearts leads a new crop of Villain Kids (VKs). There’s trouble, time travel, spellbinding songs and a touching tribute to late co-star Cameron Boyce.
“This is really a new story,” Cantrall told Yahoo Entertainment about taking the reins from the original cast, who expressed reluctance to continue following Boyce’s sudden death in 2019.
Bringing the drama in the new chapter is Rita Ora, who evokes trouble as Red’s threatening mother. Brandy steps back into the shoes of the kind Cinderella 27 years after playing the role for the first time. China Anne McClain, who plays Uma, returns to help “pass that torch” to the new generation of VKs.
Cantrall talks to Yahoo about all things Red, as well as her path to stardom, which began with a YouTube series analyzing Disney shows when she was 8 years old, before starring in them soon after.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
As someone who aspired to be a Disney star as a little girl, how did you react to taking on the lead role in a major franchise?
Oh, I cried. When I got the call, my agent did one of those silly things where he said, “Hey, Kylie, I have some bad news. Unfortunately… you will be very busy in January because you booked Descendants!” So at first I was like, “Oh no!” So it was surreal when it all started.
The original Descendants The film was released when you were 10 years old. How many times do you think you watched it?
A good 10 times. I was obsessed with the former as a kid. I remember [binge-watching] over and over, fast-forwarding so I could learn the dance moves “Rotten to the root,” my favorite and the other songs.
What was it like meeting Rita for the first time?
We actually met on a Zoom call. The director, Jen [Phang], made us create a little bond between mother and daughter to read our lines together. When I walked in, the first thing I said was, “Hi, Mom.” She was like, “Hi, daughter.” That was cute.
Did you spend time together when the cameras weren’t rolling?
We didn’t get to leave the set much because she was only there for about two weeks. It was quick because obviously she’s a global pop star. She said, “OK, I’m going to go in, finish my scenes and leave.” That was the vibe. But on the days we were together on set, we bonded. She is more of an older sister than a motherly figure. She gave me some good advice for boys: “Don’t date boys your age. They’re a waste of time.” I held it.
Have you heard of any of the stars of the original franchise who weren’t in this one – like Cameron Dove It is Sophie Carson – about taking the torch?
In fact, I couldn’t really connect with them. Obviously it is a project so sensitive and so dear to their hearts that it makes sense. And this really is a new story. I’m so grateful to China and having her as the guidance we all needed in the beginning – being the big sister to all of us and passing on the torch. She was a dream to work with – always sharing the kindest words and giving us advice.
Cameron Boyce is honored in the film. What can you tell fans about this scene?
It’s a beautiful scene. I’ve seen all different versions of this script. The only thing that always remained the same was the tribute to Cameron Boyce. That was in every draft of the script. It was the only thing [everyone agreed]: This has to happen. Not only was it necessary, but it adds a lot to the film. It pays homage to him and his legacy, and how much he was at the heart of these films.
This film delves into Disney nostalgia, bringing Brandy in to play Cinderella alongside her original Prince Charming, Paolo Montalban. Did you have one-on-one time with her?
Talk about someone who has been in this industry for a long time and has had such a beautiful career. But what I love about her is that she has managed to remain incredibly humble and kind. She definitely did it all, so meeting her and seeing how welcoming she was to us. She took time to bond with us. The first time I met her, I felt she had such an angelic aura. She has a sweet and soft voice, very similar to Cinderella. She is very regal and feels like a princess.
Let’s talk about Red’s look – with lots of hearts. How would you describe this?
It’s so essential to who she is. It’s cool. It’s nervous. She loves leather. She loves red. I love all the little details – like the red wig, the heart buns, and the nose ring. Her heartbreak logo is all over her outfit and leather gloves. All of this is fundamental to character creation. The minute I put her wardrobe together I thought: I feel like Red. So when I put on that red wig, I thought: OK, I’m a VK.
Are you the first Disney princess to wear a nose ring?
You might be on the right path. I think I might be.
Red goes to Auradon Prep with the other children of Disney villains and heroes. What was your school experience?
I went to elementary school and started homeschooling in seventh grade after booking my first gig, Gabby Duran. So I only did two years of high school, which in my opinion was perfect. I left at the perfect time [laughs]. Going to school on set is not traditional at all. I would be studying in increments – like: I have 10 minutes before I shoot a scene, let me take this math test. Having a teacher just for me was a luxury.
I was still at school when I filmed Descendants, but I was definitely behind. It’s always been difficult for me to balance the two – although I don’t think it’s impossible because there are people who do it. For me, it was a blessing and a curse to know what I wanted to do when I was young, because I was in school taking pre-calculus and thinking: I will literally never use this. I know I just want to sing and dance. So that made motivation difficult, but kids, stay in school.
The “coming to the castle” is part of the plot. Have you ever been to prom or prom?
I didn’t go to the dance, but I got to experience a classic prom. I went with my best friend to her school. She brought me as her date, so I got to experience it through her. It was fun – and definitely interesting. Everyone was like, Who is this girl? She’s not going here.
When you were 8 years old, you had your own YouTube series reviewing Disney shows. How would you rate this film?
I actually would have loved it as a kid – without tooting my own horn or anything. I would have really liked the characters. That’s the cool thing about Descendants franchise – the concept is so good and evergreen. Children, no matter the generation, will find a place in their hearts for this because they are these iconic fairy tale characters that we know and love and we can see what their children are like. There is so much amazing singing and dancing, and the songs are so good and catchy.
How did you manage Internet trolls when you were a young YouTube star – and how do you deal with Internet negativity now?
It’s a double-edged sword. It’s a great tool to connect with people from all over the world and share your crafts and art. But along with that, you are putting yourself out there for people to judge you from a fragment of what is actually real. They don’t know you. This is something I had to face from the beginning, and in some ways I’m grateful to have been on social media at such a young age and to have experienced what public scrutiny is like. I would catch trolls. I had a gap in my teeth when I was younger, so I get comments about that. But it left me thick-skinned and prepared for these bigger moments. Now I’m like: Whatever it is.
I read that you manifested Disney stardom. What else do you hope to manifest in your career?
I want to headline Coachella, or another giant music festival, and my own tour one day, so I’m manifesting that now. But also getting into the Marvel space. That’s the next thing I’m manifesting. I would love to play a superhero.
Descendants: The Rise of Red premieres July 12 on Disney+ and August 9 at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel.
