The third sequel to the Descendants series, Descendants: The Rise of Red, honors the late Cameron Boyce by paying tribute to his character Carlos. Along with his co-stars Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, and Booboo Stewart, Boyce’s character was one of the key characters in all three films. The cast has opened up about feeling his presence on set and paying tribute to his character in a recent interview.
Descendants: The Rise of Red Honors Cameron Boyce
Boyce, aged 20 at the time, passed away due to complications arising from epilepsy. His co-stars have repeatedly celebrated his life through his various works in the context of The Descendants. In it, he played Carlos, the son of Cruella de Vil, one of the main characters.
In an interview with People magazine, Dara Renee said, “We couldn’t have done it without her. Descendants wouldn’t be what it is without her.” Dara Renee, who played Uliana in Descendants: The Rise of Red, acknowledged how much the story would have been missing without her. This statement shows how much Boyce and her role were respected and loved by her crew and colleagues.
According to the outlet, in the latest movie in the series, Uma asks the Fairy Godmother to open the school for all VKs, including Red in Wonderland. Although the Fairy Godmother initially doesn’t agree, Uma reminds her that Carlos would want the same thing. With tears in her eyes, she looks at Carlos’ framed photo on the wall, causing the Fairy Godmother to agree with her.
Speaking to the magazine, Kyle Cantrall, who plays Red, insisted that although many changes were made to the script during filming, nothing stopped them from honoring Boyce’s memory. “It felt like he was right there with us,” Cantrall said.
Shortly after Descendants 3 premiered, Disney released a tribute that chronicled Boyce’s past roles and fond memories of him. It ended with a message that said, “You mean everything to us.”
Preserving the memories and influence of Cameron Boyce
The Descendants: The Royal Wedding animated special focuses on Mal and Ben’s wedding ceremony. However, it is indirectly mentioned several times that Carlos is gone. Mal receives a gift from the VKs that bears their family insignia, symbolizing the eternal bond within them. When Mal’s charm bracelet, which bears Carlos’ family insignia, glows for a few seconds, it makes all the VKs smile.
In an interview about continuing the franchise beyond Boyce, Sofia Carson explained how difficult it was to work on the animated specials without him. China Anne McClain admitted her initial reluctance to participate in another Descendants project after his death. Even though such obstacles remained insurmountable for the cast, they were comforted because they were also celebrating Cameron’s legacy, which had brought more joy to another generation of fans.
Cameron Boyce’s colleagues have supported the Cameron Boyce Foundation since his passing. Among other things, the foundation advocates for issues that were very close to Boyce’s heart even when he was alive.
Also read: Descendants: The Rise of Red ending explained; a new chapter revealed
