Brandy returns as Queen Cinderella for Disney+ musical

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March 22, 2023

By Zach Sharf, Variety

Brandy as Cinderella. (Disney Descendants via YouTube)

The glass slippers still fit Brandy. The singer’s long-awaited return as Cinderella in a new Disney television movie has been given an official first look, courtesy of footage from the set of “Descendants: Rise of Red.” Brandy is reprising the role of Cinderella 26 years after becoming the princess opposite Whitney Houston’s Fairy Godmother in the 1997 television movie “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.”

The set footage also confirmed that “Descendants: Rise of Red” will feature the return of Paolo Montalban, who played Brandy’s Prince Charming in the 1997 movie, which was groundbreaking for its multicultural casting. Charming is now king, and Cinderella is queen.

Variety confirmed last November that Brandy boarded the “Descendants” movie as Cinderella. At the time, the movie musical had the working title of “The Pocketwatch.” The film centers on the relationship between Red (Kylie Cantrall), the rebellious teenage daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe (Mia Baker), the cheerful but naive daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming. The two must travel back in time to prevent the destruction of their home, the kingdom of Auradon.

[…]

In 2021, following news that “Cinderalla” would finally begin streaming on Disney+, Brandy opened up to Variety about being chosen to the fairy tale princess.

“This was like a dream come true so I’m just so glad that this new generation has this beautiful piece to enjoy,” she said, adding that the streaming release felt like “divine timing.”

Variety has more quotes from Brandy about representation.

Another Disney princess has recently increased representation.

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