Dove Cameron Explains How 'Descendants' Is Disney Canon

For all of us hardcore Disney fans, sometimes it’s really hard to believe that the villains in each Disney movie didn’t actually die, but sent to the Isle of the Lost instead — but it’s 100% true!

Descendants star Dove Cameron and author Melissa de la Cruz sat down for an in-depth interview about the series and explained just how everything works together.

“I was informed very early on…by the head of Disney Channel, Gary Marsh, that the reason this project has taken so long was because Disney Corporate had to approve of somebody officially embellishing on the original stories, because that is what we’re doing,” Dove explained.

“Anything else, like Once Upon a Time, hasn’t actually been an official embellishment on the story,” she continued, “We. Are. Canon.”

Descendants was actually the first time Disney was officially touching the classic tales of their movies.

“That’s why it took so long, because apparently, Disney corporate was like ‘That’s a terrible idea, we don’t want to mess with the original stuff.’ And so [Gary] told me that. He was like, ‘This is the first time that this is ever going to happen.’”

Dove adds, “Disney Channel is it’s own thing, it’s own beast, so to be told you’re involved in the classics is like, there’s nothing more delicious than that. I think that’s why we’re all so invested in the series and the franchise itself because it’s the first time!”

“It’s the deepest honor, so for me, it was less nerve-wracking and the most delicious opportunity.”