Filmmaker Kenny Ortega has been tapped to direct the first-ever live-action film for U.S. network the Disney Channel.

Descendants will feature the children of Disney's most infamous villains, including Cruella De Vil, Maleficent and Aladdin's Jafar, as well as the offspring of the Fairy Godmother, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Mulan, according to Deadline.com.

President and chief creative officer of Disney Channels Worldwide, Gary Marsh says, "We mined Disney's treasure trove of stories and developed a new, comedic approach to the fabled characters everyone knows and loves. The result is a modern and unexpected re-interpretation of classic heritage characters utilising contemporary, relatable settings and themes."

Casting is currently underway and production is slated to begin next spring (14).

Ortega was the brains behind the High School Musical and he also served as director/choreographer of Michael Jackson's ill-fated This Is It tour rehearsals and movie.