Descendants: The Royal Wedding will will honor the late Cameron Boyce in storyline

The Descendants cast will reunite for an animated special that will center around the nuptials of Mal (Dove Cameron) and Prince Ben (Mitchell Hope), who became engaged in 2019’s Descendants 3.

The Descendants: The Royal Wedding, airing this summer on Disney, will mark the franchise’s first installment without the late Cameron Boyce.

‘For many years our love was tried, but our connection could not be denied,’ Cameron narrates in the teaser. ‘A million moments led to this, where bride and groom will share a kiss.’

Disney Channel is paying tribute to Boyce, who died at the age of 20 after suffering a seizure in July 2019, by continuing to honor his memory. 

‘The absence of the character Carlos, played by the late Cameron Boyce, will be acknowledged in the storyline and Boyce’s memory will be honored in the telecast,’ the network wrote in a statement, obtained by TVLine. 

The original stars Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Sarah Jeffery, China Anne McClain, Jedidiah Goodacre, Anna Cathcart, Dan Payne, Bobby Moynihan and Cheyenne Jackson are all set to appear in the family-friendly flick.  

Speaking of the film, Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Branded Television, noted how Descendants’ ‘fantasy world of stories and characters anchored in Disney mythology.’ 

‘For the past six years, it captivated young viewers and grew to become among Disney Channel’s biggest entertainment franchises ever,’ he continued.  

Days after Boyce’s passing, Cameron remembered her late co-star with a memorial video in honor of the actor.  

‘Cameron was always good and kind,’ the 25-year-old entertainer said. ‘He was selfless and generous, he was magnanimous and arguably a true philanthropist at only 20. Beloved by anyone who had ever been lucky enough to experience his light and indescribable energy. Cameron was the ultimate example of a human being.’ 

Dove posted a series, in which she wept about the actor’s passing and admitted to feeling ‘really weird posting about Cameron on social media.’ 

‘Cameron was one of my favorite people alive in the world, though I know that’s not unique to me,’ she said. ‘Cameron was magic – an earth angel.’

The Hairspray Live alum said that Boyce was always a loyal and caring friend to her, offering examples of his kind nature: ‘Over the last six years, since he was only 14, Cameron talked me down from countless ledges, got me through eating disorders, helped me out of a dark relationship and through endless breakdowns.’

Dove opened up about their on-set interactions, recalling charming details about the professional chemistry they shared.

‘He would whisper the dance moves to me on live television when I didn’t know what I was doing or hold my hand quietly to communicate wordlessly when we both knew we were thinking the same thing,’ she said. ‘I can’t count on my hands the number of times we ruined something because we couldn’t stop making each other laugh.’  

She also called Boyce ‘undoubtedly the most talented person most of us will ever know,’ noting that his actions when the cameras were off were just as magnanimous.