China Anne McClain Says Cameron Boyce Would Be Proud of Latest Descendants Movie (Exclusive)

China Anne McClain believes her late friend and colleague Cameron Boyce would be proud of the latest Descendants movie.

The 26-year-old actress starred alongside Boyce in the first three titles of the Disney franchise, with the latest — Descendants 3 — released after his death. Boyce, who played Carlos in the films, died in July 2019 aged 20 after suffering an epileptic seizure in his sleep.

Fourth installment, Descendants: The Rise of Redpremiered July 12 on Disney+, starring McClain as Uma, now the principal of Auradon Prep. Reflecting on the overwhelming fan support for the film, McClain tells PEOPLE he thinks Boyce would be just as pleased to see the outpouring of love.

“I think he would be very excited to see it and see how [the movie] it worked out because, to be honest, none of us knew how it would be received,” she says, noting that seeing the production experience through the eyes of the film’s new cast members brought back memories of filming the original in 2015. “They were so excited and they are so young. They are all so young that I looked at them and I remembered when I stepped on the set Descendants the first time.”

Meet Descendants: The Rise of Red The cast, including new and returning characters

From left: Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce and China Anne McClain in a scene from ‘Descendants 3’.

David Bukach/Disney Channel via Getty

“And also how Cameron felt, because we were both in the Disney system before we came in Descendantsand we’ve known each other since we were kids,” she continues, referring to Boyce’s role in Jessie and her u ANT farm. “That’s why I think it would mean a lot to him if the baton was handed over.”

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When PEOPLE shared an exclusive first look Rise of the Red back in May, McClain said she was nervous about returning for the film after Boyce’s death. But in the end, she found the experience to be “healing”.

“I was afraid to visit again Descendants in the world at first, because losing Cam was the first heartbreak I’ve ever experienced,” she said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE at the time. “But seeing how excited the new generation of kids are, it reminded me of myself when we created the original movies.”

“Everything came together beautifully,” she continued. “There is one scene that is very special to me, I’m sure the audience will be able to guess what it is after watching the film. Returning to Uma was very fulfilling and healing for me.”

China Anne McClain in ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’.

Disney+

How Descendants: The Rise of Red Tribute to Cameron Boyce and his character Carlos (Exclusive)

A touching tribute to Boyce is included in the new film. In the scene where Uma (McClain) talks to the Fairy Godmother about her plans to open a school for all VKs (or Villain Kids), she says that’s what Carlos (Boyce) would want while tearfully looking at a framed photo of his character depicted on the wall.

At the D23 convention in August, actors Rise of the Red opened up to PEOPLE about the indelible mark Boyce left on the franchise. Joshua Colley said that the new film “continues [Boyce’s] legacy,” adding, “I know he’s honored in our film, so we always just want to honor the work he’s done and the talent he’s [had].”

Ruby Rose Turner said the films “would never have been the same without Cameron”, while Morgan Dudley reflected on Boyce’s powerful screen presence. “I don’t think it will ever go away,” she remarked. “And that’s what it did Descendants so special. He brought so much to it, just his life.”

Turner added that if Boyce were still here, “whatever he decides to do now would be amazing and so appealing to him. And I wish he was here so we could all see it.”

The Descendants film franchise is available to stream on Disney+.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education