IN AN UNPRECEDENTED, FAR-REACHING PROGRAMMING EVENT, THE DISNEY CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE 'DESCENDANTS 2' WILL HAVE A SIMULTANEOUS PREMIERE ON FIVE TELEVISION NETWORKS WITHIN THE DISNEY|ABC TELEVISION GROUP, FRIDAY, JULY 21 (8:00 P.M. EDT), ON DISNEY CHANNEL, ABC, DISNEY XD, FREEFORM AND LIFETIME, PLUS EACH NETWORK'S BRANDED DIGITAL PLATFORM

A far-reaching, unprecedented and simultaneous premiere has been set for the Disney Channel Original Movie "Descendants 2" across five networks within the Disney|ABC Television Group, FRIDAY, JULY 21 (8:00 p.m. EDT), on Disney Channel, ABC, Disney XD, Freeform and Lifetime. The announcement, made today by Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television Group, continues the group's commitment to showcasing its programming in new, innovative ways to reach an even wider audience, joining the announcement of ABC's exhibition of "Marvel's Inhumans" in IMAX theatres worldwide this fall.

This extraordinary "Descendants 2" summer block party ushers in the sequel to 2015's "Descendants," the fifth most watched movie in cable TV history (12.2 million Total Viewers) and will extend to each network's branded digital and several on-demand platforms (live feeds on apps; plus on-demand on the Disney Channel, ABC, Freeform and Lifetime apps, beginning Friday, July 21, at 10:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. PDT; and on Disney Channel, ABC, Freeform and Lifetime VOD beginning Saturday, July 22).

Sherwood said in making the announcement, "Descendants' fans asked for more, and we've answered their call, with more ways to watch and more ways to engage with the next chapter in their favorite TV movie. We're combining the magic of Disney Channel content with the power and reach of our linear networks and digital platforms to ensure we're everywhere our fans are all at the same time."

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, added, "The passion that fans - across every demographic and geographic landscape - have demonstrated for 'Descendants' rivals anything we've seen since 'High School Musical.' Sharing the new sequel movie across our far-reaching portfolio of TV networks and digital platforms is something only Disney can do - and we do it proudly."

This weekend, "Descendants 2" stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart will make a special appearance at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards to bring fans the exclusive world premiere of the "Ways to Be Wicked" music video featuring never-before-seen "Descendants 2" footage. The award show will be telecast SUNDAY, APRIL 30 (7:00 - 9:00 p.m. EDT), on Disney Channel.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts, sponsor of the "Descendants 2" television premiere on Disney Channel, recently launched a "Descendants 2 and You" sweepstakes that gives fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to undergo a "Descendants" makeover and meet two of the movie's stars, Sofia Carson and Cameron Boyce.

An inspiring story about the teenage sons and daughters of Disney's most infamous villains, "Descendants" (2015) has reached well over 100 million Total Viewers worldwide. Its videos on Disney's YouTube channels have amassed over one billion views. The stories spurred young readers to purchase over 2.6 million books; a new young adult novel written by Melissa de la Cruz, "Rise of the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel," will debut May 23. Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media will release a new product line inspired by "Descendants 2" this summer, designed just for tweens with villain-inspired styles across apparel, accessories, arts and activities, dolls, consumer electronics and more.

The "Descendants 2" soundtrack from Walt Disney Records is available now for pre-order (http://disneymusic.co/Descendants2) and wherever music is sold on FRIDAY, JULY 21. The "Descendants" soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 album chart in its first week of release and also ranked No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtrack, Children's, Digital Album and Top Albums charts. The album was also No. 1 on the iTunes Album Overall and Soundtrack charts, and is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

In "Descendants 2," the story deepens as the Villain Kids (AKA "VKs") - Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay - continue to try to find their place in idyllic Auradon. When the pressure to be royal becomes too much for Mal, she returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost where her archenemy Uma, the daughter of Ursula, has taken her spot as self-proclaimed queen of the run-down town. Uma, still resentful over not being selected by Ben to go to Auradon Prep with the other Villain Kids, stirs her pirate gang including Captain Hook's son Harry and Gaston's son Gil, to break the barrier between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon, and unleash all the villains imprisoned on the Isle, once and for all.

Starring are Dove Cameron ("Liv and Maddie"), Cameron Boyce ("Jessie"), Sofia Carson (Hollywood Records recording artist, "Adventures in Babysitting"), Booboo Stewart ("X-Men Days of Future Past"), and Mitchell Hope reprising the roles of Mal, Carlos, Jay, Evie and King Ben, respectively. Starring as the new villains are China Anne McClain ("A.N.T. Farm") as Uma, the daughter of Ursula; Thomas Doherty ("The Lodge") as Harry, son of Captain Hook; Dylan Playfair ("Some Assembly Required") as Gil, son of Gaston; and Anna Cathcart ("Odd Squad") as Dizzy, daughter of Cinderella's evil stepsister Drizella and granddaughter of wicked stepmother Lady Tremaine. Also reprising their roles in this sequel are Brenna D'Amico as Jane, the daughter of Fairy Godmother; Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother; Dianne Doan as Lonnie, the daughter of Mulan; Jedidiah Goodacre as Chad, the son of Cinderella; Zachary Gibson as Doug, the son of Dopey; Keegan Connor Tracy as Belle and Dan Payne as Beast.

Emmy Award-winning director Kenny Ortega ("Descendants," "High School Musical" movies) is the director, executive producer and choreographer of "Descendants 2." "Descendants" executive producer Wendy Japhet ("An Education", "The Italian Job") also serves as executive producer for the sequel. Writers Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon ("The Starter Wife," "Runaway Bride"), who won a 2016 Writers Guild Award for "Descendants," wrote "Descendants 2" and also serve as executive producers. Kara Saun ("Descendants," "Project Runway") is the costume designer. The production designer is Mark Hofeling ("Descendants," "Teen Beach Movie," "High School Musical"). Tony Testa ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "This Is It") is the choreographer with Ortega and Shawn Williamson ("Adventures in Babysitting") is producer. David Lawrence ("High School Musical" movies, "Teen Beach Movie" and "Teen Beach 2"), who was nominated for an Emmy for his "Descendants" score, returns as composer. The casting directors are Natalie Hart and Jason La Padura, C.S.A. ("Descendants," "High School Musical" and "Teen Beach" movies), as well as Kendra Patterson ("Teen Beach Movie").

About Disney|ABC Television Group

Disney|ABC Television Group is comprised of The Walt Disney Company's global entertainment and news television properties, owned television stations group, and radio business. This includes ABC Studios, a global leader in the development, production and distribution of entertainment content across broadcast, cable and on-demand platforms; the ABC Owned Television Stations Group; and the ABC Television Network, which provides entertainment and news programming to viewers via more than 200 affiliated stations across the U.S. It also includes Disney Channels Worldwide, a portfolio of 120 kid-driven, family-inclusive entertainment channels, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney brands, as well as cable network Freeform, which targets millennials. Disney|ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution and Disney Media Distribution round out the portfolio. Disney|ABC Television Group also has equity interests in A+E Networks and Hulu.