Jennifer Phang is joining the “Descendants” franchise. A press release announced that she’s been tapped to helm “The Pocketwatch” (working title), a sequel to the Disney+ sensation.
Set to feature seven new songs, the film will expand the “Descendants” universe, which introduced audiences to the the teen daughters and sons of Disney’s most beloved heroes and villains. “The Pocketwatch” will focus on Red, “the whip-smart and rebellious teenage daughter of the Queen of Hearts (‘Alice in Wonderland’) and Chloe, the perfectionist and athletic daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming (‘Cinderella’). In order to prevent an impending coup in Auradon – one that looms during the celebration of a new royal baby — Red must join forces with Chloe to travel in back in time, via the White Rabbit’s pocket watch, to stop an event that would lead to grave consequences,” the pic’s synopsis hints.
“With a captivating script and Jennifer Phang’s directorial vision, we’re setting a new high bar of creativity and imagination, with a movie that ups the ante on story, song, and dance to entertain young viewers, their families, and the global fan base that grew up with the aspirational story of ‘Descendants,'” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television. “We join them in anticipation as we prepare to deliver a great new entertainment experience to Disney+.”
Phang, whose feature credits include “Advantageous” and “Half-Life,” added, “‘The Pocketwatch’ presents a delightful canvas with fantastical world building. Musicals sparked my imagination when I was a kid and are a huge part of what drew me to filmmaking. I think that’s because they have a way of conveying these lovely, nuanced ideas through song and expressive movement. I’m also always inspired by the diversity of families that exist all around the world. So I really jumped at the chance to craft a supercharged musical experience and explore some new, invigorating themes inside an expansive Disney universe.”
Asked what advice she’d give other women directors, Phang told us, “We really do need to support each other. Too many times I’ve been led to believe that my direct competition was other women, as if there can be [only] a handful of successful female filmmakers a year. That conversation, that perception, needs to change. Women are the people who have helped me make films I love, and I want to be that kind of strength to other women.”
The director emphasized, “I am committed to creating a vision of the world that reflects how I believe it is: diverse. It is, in that respect, not an effort to diversify media representation, but rather, it comes out of the world I have grown up in.”
On the small screen, Phang has directed episodes of series such as “The Flight Attendant,” “The Boys,” and “Foundation.”
