In Tinseltown’s big and small screen, Filipino representation is now more prevalent than ever. From Star Wars to Bridgerton to the land of Barbie, Filipino actors playing Filipino-adjacent characters are making waves in visibility, which is a far cry from Hollywood’s past.
The fantasy worlds of Disney aren’t a stranger to Filipino rep, however, as once upon a time in 1997, the world was witness to a Filipino Prince Charming played by Paolo Montalban. Twenty-seven years later, the royal is returning to screens in Descendants: The Rise of Red–alongside more Filipino cast members!
What Is “Descendants: The Rise of Red” About?
In the fourth installment of the fairytale-inspired Descendants franchise, Descendants: The Rise of Red picks up from where Descendants: The Royal Wedding left off, with the introduction of new characters and the return of familiar faces.
This time around, the film revolves around Red (Kylie Cattral) and Chloe (Malia Baker), the polar opposite daughters of the Queen of Hearts and Cinderella, respectively. When Red’s mother (Rita Ora) stages a coup against their land of Auradon, the two young fairytale scions are forced back in time, compelled to undo the chain of events leading to the queen’s villainy.
As an extra nostalgic touch, Brandy and Filipino-American actor Paolo Montalban reprise their roles in the 1997 adaptation of Cinderella. With Red and Chloe thrust back to the past, audiences will meet Cinderella’s and the now-King Charming’s past selves, along with the students of the once-named Merlin Academy.
The Filipino Cast Members of “Descendants: The Rise of Red”
Paolo Montalban as King Charming
One of the most recognizable names in the bunch, Paolo Montalban returns to his role as Prince (or King!) Charming, which he originally played in the 1997 movie. In the Descendants universe, he and Brandy’s Cinderella live their happily-ever-after with their kids, Chad and Chloe Charming.
Aside from Cinderella, Paolo starred in several stage productions on Broadway and Off-Broadway, including a stage version of the film. Recently, the actor played KC Concepcion’s love interest in the 2023 movie Asian Persuasion, in which he also co-starred with Filipino-American actor Dante Basco.
Tristan Padil as Teen Prince Charming
A teenage Prince Charming appears in Red and Chloe’s time-travel jaunt, played by newcomer Tristan Padil. The character is introduced with the charm fit for the young prince, while sporting a barong-inspired ensemble as an homage to his real-life heritage.
As for Tristan, the 19-year-old Filipino-American actor has appeared in theater productions, plays the guitar, and models, too!
Sam Morelos as Meadow
Young actress Sam Morelos fills the shoes of a Merlin Academy student named Meadow, best distinguished by her bright, multi-colored curls. Her distinctive long tresses hold a connection to her original name Zellie, who was first introduced as “Rapunzel’s teen daughter” with quick-growing hair.
While Meadow’s relationship with Rapunzel isn’t confirmed in the film’s final version, the character still sports an ensemble similar to the fairytale character with a Filipino twist. In the film, Meadow wears a top with butterfly sleeves, which is likely inspired by the silhouette of the terno.
Previously, Sam already made her foray into Hollywood in Netflix’s That '90s Show, a spinoff of the cult classic series That '70s Show, where she played the ambitious Nikki.
Descendants: The Rise of Red is streaming on Disney+.
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