Darren Criss has joined the cast of Disney Channel’s Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story, taking on the role of Pinocchio‘s Jiminy Cricket. Disney’s latest addition to The Descendants franchise pushes sidekicks and their descendants into the spotlight.
Sherry Cola and James Monroe Iglehart have also joined the cast as The Emperor’s New Groove‘s Yzma and Aladdin’s Genie. Hugo Ateo will play Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove, Sean Yves Lessard joins as Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, and Dan Bakkedahl is The Sorcerer’s Apprentice‘s Yen Sid.
“Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes,” reads Disney Channel’s synopsis. “When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together — without heroes, without parents — using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.”
The previously announced cast includes:
• Dior Goodjohn (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) as Jennie, the daughter of Genie from Aladdin
• Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club) as Zara, the daughter of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove
• Jacob Rodriguez (Tell Me Lies) as Kronk Jr., the son of Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove
• Eva Fossaceca Smedley (Welcome to Flatch) as Meri, the daughter of Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty
• Harry Jones (Bury Your Nephew) as Lou, the son of Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast
Jude Weng (Only Murders in the Building) directs from a script by Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye, and Emma Fletcher. Louise Hradsky and Jeffrey Mortensen are on board as choreographers, and Mark Ordesky, Jane Fleming, Gary Marsh, and Chestna are the executive producers.