Disney is Developing a Fifth Halloweentown Film
WHO:
Variety - Disney is developing the fifth film in the “Halloweentown” series.
Variety - Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are writing the new film, based on characters created by Paul Bernbaum, writer of the original film.
TheWrap - Houghton and Koehn are developing the script for Disney.
TheWrap - It is not confirmed whether previous cast members Kimberly J. Brown or Sara Paxton will return.
TheWrap - Brown played Marnie in the first three films; Paxton took over the role in the fourth film.
TheWrap - Houghton wrote the horror comedy “Forbidden Fruits,” starring Lili Reinhart and Lola Tung, and produced Netflix’s upcoming YA horror series “The Body.”
TheWrap - Koehn was a staff writer on the “Gossip Girl” reboot and also wrote “The Mad Whale,” “Homeschooled” and “As Night Comes.”
WHAT:
TheWrap - If greenlit, the fifth “Halloweentown” film will air on Disney Channel and stream on Disney+.
Variety - Disney is in early development on a fifth “Halloweentown” film; plot details and casting have not been confirmed.
TheWrap - The franchise has accumulated 160 million hours streamed globally on Disney+; the original film ranked among the top 10 most-watched Halloween movies in October.
TheWrap - The upcoming film would join Disney’s Halloween collection, which includes “Hocus Pocus,” “Twitches” and “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
TheWrap - All four existing “Halloweentown” films are available on Disney+.
WHERE:
TheWrap - The fourth film follows Marnie and her brother Dylan at Witch University in Halloweentown.
TheWrap - “Forbidden Fruits” premiered in theaters; “The Body” is a Netflix series.
WHEN:
TheWrap - The new film is being developed 28 years after the original debuted.
Variety - The first “Halloweentown” film was released in 1998.
TheWrap - The franchise debuted with “Halloweentown” in 1998. Brown starred in “Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge” (2001) and “Halloweentown High” (2004); Paxton starred in “Return to Halloweentown” (2006).
TheWrap - The upcoming film is in early development, 20 years after the fourth installment.
TheWrap - Koehn worked on the “Gossip Girl” reboot from 2021 to 2023.
WHY:
TheWrap - The original film follows 13-year-old Marnie Piper, who discovers she comes from a line of powerful witches and must begin magical training before her powers vanish.
HOW:
Variety - The film is being written by Houghton and Koehn based on Bernbaum’s characters.
TheWrap - Brown played Marnie in the first three films; Paxton replaced her in the fourth.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 12:00 UTC)
Disney is developing a fifth “Halloweentown” film, bringing the franchise back into the works 20 years after its fourth installment. Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are writing the script, using characters created by Paul Bernbaum, who wrote the original movie. Plot details and casting have not been confirmed, including whether Kimberly J. Brown or Sara Paxton will return. Brown played Marnie in the first three films, while Paxton took over the role in the fourth, which followed Marnie and her brother Dylan at Witch University. If the project is greenlit, it will air on Disney Channel and stream on Disney+. The four existing films are already available on Disney+, where the franchise has generated 160 million hours of viewing worldwide. Houghton’s credits include the horror comedy “Forbidden Fruits,” while Koehn worked on the “Gossip Girl” reboot and several films.
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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 23:08 UTC)
Disney is developing a fifth “Halloweentown” film, bringing the fantasy franchise back two decades after its fourth installment. The project is in early development, with Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn writing a script based on characters created by original-film writer Paul Bernbaum. Plot details and casting have not been announced, and it’s unclear whether Kimberly J. Brown or Sara Paxton will return. Brown played Marnie in the first three movies, before Paxton took over the role in “Return to Halloweentown.” The series began with the 1998 film, in which Marnie discovers she comes from a family of witches and must begin magical training. The four existing movies are available on Disney+, where the franchise has drawn 160 million hours of global streaming. Houghton’s credits include “Forbidden Fruits,” while Koehn worked on the “Gossip Girl” reboot.