Brandy, Rita Ora reunite for new 'Descendants' movie, tease duet
Brandy and Rita Ora are returning to the world of "Descendants."
The actresses reprise their roles as Cinderella and the Queen of Hearts in Disney's "Descendants: Wicked Wonderland," the next chapter following the success of "Descendants: The Rise of Red."
Speaking with ABC News entertainment contributor Kelley Carter in an interview aired on "Good Morning America" Thursday, the stars shared how the new film reimagines familiar Disney characters while bringing their own friendship to the screen.
Ora said she was drawn to the complexity of playing her role.
"I did love the idea of the Queen of Hearts, like you never really know if she's like pretending or like if it's real," Ora said. "And you know, you've got obviously Cinderella, who is always kind of that anchor within the movies."
Meanwhile, Brandy added, "I did have my villain pants on...That's new for Cinderella."
The pair also teased a new duet, "The Girl I Used to Be," which they said is one of the moments they're most excited for fans to see.
"Our duet," Brandy said when asked if there was a scene she was especially looking forward to audiences watching. "It was magical. The song is called 'The Girl I Used to Be.' I think people are gonna love it."
"Yes," Ora agreed, adding of working with Brandy, "It was my dream to be not only on a song with her, but also just in anything with her because I've been looking up to her since I can remember."
Their collaboration was years in the making.
"What people don't really know is that I met Rita when she got her start," Brandy said. "And I saw this beautiful light in her then and I see it now. And when we got a chance to do this movie together, I mean, our chemistry was just unmatched."
In the film, debuting Thursday on Disney Channel, Cinderella and the Queen of Hearts have rekindled a broken friendship, while their daughters -- Red, played by Kylie Cantrall, and Chloe Charming, played by Malia Baker -- continue their own story.
Brandy said motherhood has influenced the way she approaches Cinderella.
"Of course, I don't have any place else to pull from, but my own experience and my own heart," she said. "So the love that I have for my daughter, I try to bring into my spirit for Malia and Chloe Charming."
Brandy also reflected on the lasting impact of her starring role in Disney's 1997 television movie "Cinderella," which she said continues to resonate with audiences nearly three decades later.
"It really does give me so much purpose and meaning, that what I've been able to do and accomplish and still be able to do touches someone, or wakes up something in someone to help them believe in themselves, to do the things that they wanna do in their life," she said.
"Well, you're my Cinderella," Ora chimed in. "I was seven when that film came out. It did a lot, a lot for us, our generation."
Brandy said she believes the film helped pave the way for the diverse storytelling seen in the "Descendants" franchise today.
"I think it set a bar and an example of how this universe, the 'Descendants' universe, can be so versatile and diverse," she said.
During the conversation with Carter, both actresses also reflected on the responsibility they feel as role models for young audiences.
Ora said her own experience as an immigrant continues to shape her message.
"Coming from an immigrant background and moving to the U.K. when I was 1, I've always felt sort of like out of place, and the sort of overall stereotype that comes with the word refugee or immigrant and understanding that the entertainment industry whether it's second generation, third generation really comes from an immigrant background, I just always try my best to inspire the young kids that aren't living in the country that they're from," Ora said. "That's my message."
Brandy said perseverance has been one of the biggest lessons of her career.
"It was, it has been a journey for me," she said. "I've been through so much in my life, publicly and privately, but I'm still here and I feel so beautiful within myself because I didn't give up."
She added, "And I just hope that I can be an example to someone else that is watching, young girls, like you can go through the fire and still find the light for sure."
"Descendants: Wicked Wonderland" premieres today on Disney Channel and begins streaming Friday on Disney+.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News.
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