The sidekick-kids spinoff with Darren Criss as Jiminy Cricket is done shooting and headed to Disney Channel and Disney+ in 2027. Meanwhile, the Descendants, ZOMBIES and Camp Rock arena tour just opened a 48-city run.
It’s a big week to be a Descendant.
Filming has wrapped on Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story, the next movie in Disney Channel’s long-running musical franchise. The cast marked it on Instagram in costume, holding props tied to classic Disney sidekicks.
The same weekend, the Worlds Collide Tour opened its 2026 run, with Descendants, ZOMBIES and Camp Rock stars performing in 48 arenas across North America.
What is Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story about?
The kids of Disney’s sidekicks, for the first time.
The first Descendants movies were about the children of villains. This one goes to the characters who stood next to the heroes. Per Disney, there’s a portal “hidden in the center of each fairy tale” that leads to Sidekick Academy, a secret school where the descendants of legendary sidekicks train to become partners to heroes.
“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,” Disney’s description reads.
Disney greenlit the film in early August for Disney Channel and Disney+.
Who is in the Hidden Heroes cast?
A new, young lead cast, plus some big names as the original sidekicks. The five leads, per Disney:
Dior Goodjohn (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) as Jennie, daughter of Genie from Aladdin
Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club) as Zara, daughter of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove
Jacob Rodriguez (Tell Me Lies) as Kronk Jr., son of Kronk
Eva Fossaceca Smedley (Welcome to Flatch) as Meri, daughter of Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty
Harry Jones as Lou, son of Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast
In August, Disney added the grown-up versions. Darren Criss plays Jiminy Cricket, Sherry Cola is Yzma, Hugo Ateo is Kronk, James Monroe Iglehart is Genie, Dan Bakkedahl is Yen Sid and Sean Yves Lessard is Lumiere, per TVLine.
Iglehart won a Tony for playing Genie in Aladdin on Broadway, so that one’s a homecoming. Jude Weng is directing.
When does Hidden Heroes come out?
Sometime in 2027 on Disney Channel and Disney+, per TVLine. Disney hasn’t set a date.
Descendants: The Rise of Red premiered on Disney+ in July 2024 before airing on Disney Channel. A summer 2027 slot for Hidden Heroes would fit that pattern, though that’s a guess, not an announcement.
When is the Worlds Collide Tour, and who’s performing?
It started Sept. 25 in Palm Desert, California, and runs through Dec. 13 in Mexico City, per Laughing Place.
The Descendants side includes Malachi Barton, Liamani Segura, Dara Renee and Mekonnen Knife. ZOMBIES brings Hudson Stone, Swayam Bhatia, Kiara Romero and Alexandro Byrd. Camp Rock is new to the lineup this year, timed to the summer release of Camp Rock 3.
Laughing Place posted opening-weekend clips. Segura sang “One Beat Away” from Camp Rock 3 and “This Is Me” from the original. Barton and Stone did “Play My Music.” The cast also debuted a new 2026 version of “Worlds Collide.”
Last year’s tour played 40 arenas and later became a Disney+ concert special.
Can you still get Worlds Collide Tour tickets?
Yes, for most dates. Tickets are sold through each arena, and VIP packages include a cast Q&A, per Laughing Place.
The tour hits Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sept. 28, one of the first big-market stops.
So one generation of Disney Channel kids is on a stage right now. The next one just finished shooting.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDW News Today and Laughing Place (Sept. 26, 2026), the filming wrap, story description and lead cast
TVLine (Aug. 18, 2026), the adult cast, director and 2027 timing
Laughing Place (March 18, 2026, updated April 6), Worlds Collide Tour dates and performers, plus opening-weekend clips (Sept. 26)
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