Actor Cheyenne Jackson talks about Descendants 3
Actor adds variety of emotions to underworld character in Victoria-shot Descendants 3
Cheyenne Jackson landed a helluva role in Descendants 3 — Hades. The musical productions in the franchise have all featured characters based on Disney characters. In Jackson’s case, the inspiration is the underworld’s wicked ruler as introduced in the animated film Hercules. The actor, best known for his work on American Horror Story, took the inspiration and added his own devilish spin.
“They showed me renderings of what he looked like, and there are certain things you can’t ignore, like crazy blue hair that lights on fire when you get mad. But I have never seen the Disney version and I am kind of glad about that because I didn’t want to do anything he did,” Jackson says of the production that featured James Woods as the voice of Hades. “We had to keep the blue flaming hair, but everything else was stuff [director] Kenny [Ortega] and I created.”
Although the natural assumption is that Hades is a heartless villain, Jackson didn’t approach the role with such a narrow focus. His approach was to play Hades as a character who was filled with a variety of emotions. He has always made it a point that, no
matter what role he’s playing, he wants the audience to think of the character as a person with dreams, wishes, fears and goals.
Ortega and Jackson found the balance of huge and quiet moments that allowed Jackson to play Hades the way he wanted to present him.
Descendants 3, scheduled to debut tonight on Disney Channel, takes place on VK (Villain Kids) Day, when the fair-minded children of villains — Mal (Dove Cameron), Evie (Sofia Carson), Carlos (Cameron Boyce) and Jay (Booboo Stewart) — cross the barrier and return to the Isle of the Lost so they can bring four deserving VKs to Auradon Prep. Mal realizes the barrier must be permanently closed to make sure the likes of Hades and Uma (China Anne McClain) won’t escape.
The film includes scenes shot in Victoria and Vancouver, and features Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University in Colwood.
Jackson was aware of the first film in the franchise because his close friend, Kristin Chenoweth, portrayed Maleficent. Chenoweth convinced Jackson to take on a project that was different to anything he had done before. His credits include appearances on the TV shows Glee, 30 Rock, American Woman, Family Practice, Behind the Candelabra and Curb Your Enthusiasm, plus the feature films Love is Strange, Beautiful Now and Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.
Jackson applauds Disney Channel for its continued efforts to keep the musical format alive. He recalls how when he was growing up in Idaho, the only musical he got to see was the filmed version of Annie. It was a limited exposure, but it had a lasting impact.
“It meant everything to me,” Jackson says. “I just couldn’t believe you could sing and dance in a movie, and that could be your job. Because I grew up in such a small town, where there was no children’s theatre, all I had were the movies and my imagination.”
That changed when he moved to Seattle as a teenager and began working in local theatre. When he was 15, Jackson saw a production of Les Miserables and could not believe people could make a living travelling around the country performing in such a powerful and entertaining show. It was that moment when Jackson decided he was going to be an actor.
It took some time, but when Jackson was 27, he was off to New York to find work. The musical portion of Descendants 3 was easy for Jackson, because he has appeared on Broadway in Aida, Xanadu, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Finian’s Rainbow. The Grammy-nominated singer made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall with his show, Cheyenne Jackson’s Cocktail Hour: Music of the Mad Men Era. He also released his first, full-length album of original music, I’m Blue, Skies.
Jackson agreed to play Hades for one other reason.
“I now have children and I wanted to do something that my kids could see,” he says “I won’t be showing them American Horror Story. My mom has never seen American Horror Story. This will be their first movie.” • Descendants 3 will include a dedication and tribute video to cast member Cameron Boyce when it premières on Disney Channel today. Boyce died suddenly last month from epilepsy.