‘Descendants: The Rise Of Red’ Stars Kylie Cantrall & Malia Baker Have Been Fans Of The Franchise Since “Rotten To The Core”: “That Song Is Fire”

The highly anticipated fourth installment of Disney’s Descendants franchise, Descendants: The Rise Of Red, is now available to stream on Disney+. The musical adventure fantasy introduces a new bunch of fairytale characters to the fascinating the world of Auradon, including Red, played by Kylie Cantrall, who is the Princess of Wonderland. As she rebels against her mother, the Queen of Hearts, played by music superstar Rita Ora, she receives an invite to attend Auradon Prep. Also in the freshman class is Chloe, played by Malia Baker, the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming, played by Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella stars Brandy Norwood and Paolo Montalban. After the Queen of Hearts stages a coup, Red and Chloe must team up, travel back in time, and stop Red’s mother from becoming a villain.

Cantrall and Baker are the perfect young actresses to tackle these soon-to-be iconic roles. Cantrall admits that growing up she could be a “bad kid” who got in trouble for doing “silly stuff,” which makes her perfectly suited to bring out Red’s rebellious side. “Red is very much that kid in the back of the class causing trouble, showing up late, not doing her homework,” said Cantrall. “It was fun to dive into that character because she has so many layers.” On the other side of the spectrum is self-proclaimed “recovering perfectionist” Baker. “When I was younger, I was very nervous about how I was perceived,” remembered Baker. “Mine and Chloe’s journeys are very similar in that sense.”

Both girls understand what it means to be part of the beloved Disney franchise. “Descendants was all the rage in fourth grade,” recalled Cantrall. “That’s all that we talked about.” Both girls’ favorite song from the first movie? “Rotten to the Core.” Cantrall recalls: “When [that song] came on, I was like, ‘this is fire.'” “I think that was the song that changed everything,” agreed Baker. “As soon as you heard that song, everyone in your household was seated.”

Cantrall and Baker dropped by the Page Six Studio to chat with DECIDER about the film, working with director Jennifer Chang, and whether Baker got to keep Chloe’s glass slippers.

DECIDER: Were you fans of the Descendants growing up?

KYLIE CANTRALL: Big time. Descendants is so major to me, and it all really stems from my nine-year-old self. When it first premiered in 2015, Descendants was all the rage in fourth grade. That’s all that we talked about [laughs]. I vividly remember running across the street to my neighbor’s house to watch the premiere. When “Rotten to the Core” came on, I was like, “this is fire.” I want to be a VK.

MALIA BAKER: I think that was the song that changed everything.

KC: It was revolutionary!

MB: As soon as you heard that song, everyone in your household was seated. Everybody just wanted to watch television. We were the Descendants‘ prime audience at the time when it came out. So now to be here; it’s such a crazy reality. For Halloweens growing up, the streets were filled with kids dressing up as every single character from the movie. Maybe Trick or Treaters this year…

KC: Little Reds at Halloween!

MB: It’s going to be insane. It doesn’t feel like real life!

If the fan reaction from VidCon was any indication, audiences are going to love the film and your characters.

MB: Honestly, I felt like a fan at VidCon. Kylie performed, and Ruby and I turned to each other and just sobbed. We couldn’t deal with it. We were all crying [laughs]. It made it all feel so real. I always joke that any project you work on almost feels like a home movie when you’re filming it. After it’s over, you go on about your life, and you don’t hear about it for a year. After that, it’s like “oh, we’re going to do some press, it’s no big deal.” Then, suddenly, you’re everywhere.

KC: VidCon was the first event that we all went to as a cast where people really knew us. That’s when it hit me for the first time. People are going to watch this. [laughs]

Kylie, was it easy to slip back into Red’s shoes for your VidCon performance?

KC: It was honestly a “pinch me moment.” I hadn’t been in the Red outfit since filming, so getting into it was like, “whoa, this is crazy.” I remembered what it felt like on set. It was nostalgic to put on the wig and to get back in the full wardrobe. It just was so fun.

This is the first Descendants movie not directed by Kenny Ortega. Why was Jennifer Phang the right choice to take over his legacy?

MB: Our movie is so female driven. That’s one of the best parts about it. There’s no knight in shining armor. There’s Chloe with her sword instead. All the storylines in the film are driven by women—by Rita, by Brandy, by Kylie by me, by Dara Reneé, by Ruby—and everyone is a powerhouse. Jennifer just really brought that to light.

I remember doing our first Zoom with Kylie and Jennifer. I was already obsessed with Kylie [laughs], but getting to speak with Jennifer and hear her vision of what this new era of Descendants will look like was really cool. All her wonderful ideas ended up on screen. I hope that audiences love her as much as we loved working with her.

Malia, you mentioned Brandy, who reprises her role as Cinderella in the film. Paolo Montalban also returns as Prince Charming. What was it like to have these Disney legends play your on-screen parents?

MB: I’m obsessed with them both. They’re both just the loveliest people. Our choreographer, Ashley Wallen, told me a story about when they first saw each other after all these years. Paolo said to Brandy, “my queen,” and she said, “my prince.” It was just the most magical moment to even hear about. Being able to see Brandy and call her mom on set was insane.

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And Kylie, your on-screen mother is played by pop superstar, Rita Ora. What was it like working with her?

KC: She’s a superstar for sure. Everyone could feel that the minute she stepped on to set. She has this powerful aura about her. It was really inspiring to be around that energy. She’s a global pop star for a reason [laughs]. She’s so incredible in the film. The Queen of Hearts felt like the role she was meant to play. She’s very funny. She has that British sense of humor. She’s also such a glam girl. We were taking selfies all the time.

MB: Release those!

KC: I’m still holding onto some of our mom and daughter selfies.

I also want to talk about Red. She’s such a rich character. What was it like channeling your inner rebel for the role?

KC: Oh, my inner rebel. It was so fun. Honestly, I feel that my younger self was a muse for Red because when I was in school, I was could be such a bad kid. I would be called to the principal’s office daily.

MB: What?

KC: I was such a bad kid [laughs]. I would get in trouble for stupid stuff, like passing notes in class…

MB: Spray painting my mom’s face on the wall…

KC: Spray painting the whole school just like Red [laughs]. It was silly stuff. I felt like I was channeling that energy for Red because she very much is that kid in the back of the class causing trouble, showing up late, not doing her homework. It was fun to dive into her character because she has so many layers that are revealed as the story goes on. Chloe is able to bring out this sweet, softer side of Red. It was fun to channel all of her different vibes.

Malia, Chloe couldn’t be more different than Red. She’s a perfectionist; she’s bit of a goody two shoes. Was she a character you could relate to?

MB: Like Kylie was Red, I was Chloe when I was younger. It’s so crazy.

KC: I think we’re healing our inner children.

MB: I think we are [laughs]. When I was younger, I was very nervous about how I was perceived. People-pleasing tendencies were so strong to my core and who I was. I was a perfectionist. Actually, I say I’m a recovering perfectionist now because I really am trying to let things go and go with the flow. Mine and Chloe’s journeys are very similar in that sense. By the end of the film, Chloe learns that you have to get your hands dirty. You have let things go.

One of the things fans love most about the Descendants movies are the wardrobe, the hair, and the makeup. How did Red’s and Chloe’s looks inform how you played the roles?

KC: I’m such a visual person. Before I could really imagine how was I going to play Red and figure out her body language, I had to figure out her look. The minute I saw myself in the mirror with that red wig and the full leather jacket and gloves, I knew how to bring Red to life. I feel like her look directly reflects who she is as a person. It’s edgy, but it still feels regal. She’s a princess. It’s cool. I would want to dress up as her if I was a little kid.

MB: I fan girl’d every time that any one of us put a costume on. It makes everything feel more real. Like you said, once you put on that wig and outfit, you are that character. There’s no way I couldn’t feel like Chloe in my completely blue outfit. There was not an inch of my body without some bit of blue or glitter. The first fitting was a dream. Also, everything is custom made.

Malia, I have to ask, did you get to keep the glass slippers?

MB: Oh my gosh. Let’s talk about it, shall we?

KC: I never asked you about this!

MB:I actually didn’t get to keep them.

KC: What?

MB: I also didn’t get to keep my sword.

KC: Let’s go back. Let’s go back to Atlanta right now.

MB: Make it make sense. I was thinking how I could get through security with all of those items.

KC: We’ll sneak in. Go back at midnight.

MB: Yeah, they totally won’t know it’s us [laughs]. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to keep anything. If we ever go back…

KC: We’ll be back, fingers crossed.

MB: I’ll take everything [laughs]! I’ll make up for it, I swear.

On that note, at the end of the movie, it doesn’t feel like Red’s and Chloe’s stories are over. What do you think their next chapter will look like?

KC: The girlies do go back in time and that’s always messy. I’m sure there’s something that we altered when we went back. I have a feeling that the next film could involve us cleaning up our mess. True. That’s what I anticipate. I feel there’s still so much left to the story. I’d be interested to see what the new Red and Chloe look like.

MB: Time travel really does get messy. There’s really no straightforward story line. I trust the writers completely. They do us justice in every single scene; so, whatever the potential next movie looks like, it will be an adventure in the best sense.

Descendants: The Rise Of Red is now streaming on Disney+