It's been a long road to the premiere of the Disney Channel Original movie Descendants 3 [1], and judging by the reaction from the fans, the network has another hit on their hands. The third installment of the musical franchise picks up on VK Day [2] as our favorite villain kids — Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay — return to the Isle of the Lost in an effort to bring another foursome back to Auradon [3]. But a close encounter with her disgruntled father sends things into a tailspin as it moves Mal to suggest closing the barrier between Auradon and the Isle for good. A villainous turnabout by former lady of the court Audrey results in things taking a turn for the worse — and the VKs are forced to team up with their nemeses, Uma, Harry, and Gil, in order to save both their homes.
Not only does the film — directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega — feature stellar performances filled with incredible choreography and sweet duets, but the catchy tunes perfectly encapsulate everything we love [4] about the franchise. (Seriously, we'll be singing "Queen of Mean" for days!) The film also held a message of bettering the world though unity and celebrating differences, a theme that is pointedly relevant nowadays [5].
What makes this ending particularly impactful is the death of actor Cameron Boyce, who died from an epileptic seizure [6] at age 20 on July 6. After the film premiere, Disney released a moving montage documenting the young actor's past roles [7]. The film's cast said their farewells to their friend and the franchise [8], and fans paid their tributes to Boyce's legacy during the show's airing. Keep reading for their heartfelt testimonials and be sure to keep a tissue nearby — you may get a bit emotional.
