Good news for every witch-in-training who grew up on Disney Channel: Halloweentown is coming back. Disney has not set a Halloweentown 5 release date yet, but a fifth movie is now in early development, 20 years after Return to Halloweentown. TheWrap broke the story on Thursday, October 22, 2026, and People later confirmed it. The film is planned for Disney Channel and Disney+. Disney has not shared a cast, director or premiere window, so fans have plenty to guess about for now.
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Key Points
- A fifth Halloweentown movie is in early development at Disney Channel and Disney+, according to TheWrap and People.
- No release date, cast or director has been announced.
- Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are writing the script.
- Kimberly J. Brown has said she is ready to play Marnie again, but nothing is confirmed.
- All four earlier films stream on Disney+.
Halloweentown 5 Release Date: What We Know So Far
Fans will have to wait for a date. TheWrap’s exclusive did not name a premiere window, according to a Pirates & Princesses summary of the report. People said plot details are under wraps.
Early development means the project is still at the script stage. AOL reported that the film would air on Disney Channel and stream on Disney+ if Disney approves it.
Every earlier Halloweentown movie premiered in October. Many fans will hope for another spooky-season debut, though Disney has not said anything about timing.
The writers are the first real clue about where the story could go.
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Who Is Writing Halloweentown 5?
Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are developing the script, according to TheWrap. It builds on characters created by Paul Bernbaum, who wrote the 1998 original.
Houghton wrote the horror comedy Forbidden Fruits, which reached theaters earlier this year. She also produced The Body, an upcoming young adult horror series for Netflix. Koehn worked as a staff writer on the Gossip Girl reboot from 2021 to 2023.
A director has not been named. The story and tone are still a mystery.
The biggest question has nothing to do with the script. It is about who gets to wear Marnie’s witch hat.
Will Kimberly J. Brown Return in Halloweentown 5?
Brown played Marnie Piper in the first three films. Sara Paxton took over for Return to Halloweentown in 2006. Brown has said she never learned why Disney made the change.
As of October 23, 2026, Brown’s involvement is not confirmed. Reports say it is unclear whether Brown or Paxton would play Marnie.
Brown has been clear about her own wishes. She told People last month, at the Step Up Inspiration Awards, that she would love to see where Marnie is today. She also said fans ask about a new film almost every day. “The ball’s in their court at this point,” she said.
She told PauseRewind in an interview published October 1, “I have told Disney I’m down.”
Brown even has a pitch. On the Disney+ Hulu Throwbacks Podcast, she imagined a grown-up Marnie who trains young witches or runs for mayor of Halloweentown. J. Paul Zimmerman, who played Marnie’s brother Dylan, figured Dylan would be looking after the library.
Paxton said in 2021 that she has no hard feelings toward Brown and is a fan of her work.
Marnie is only one part of the puzzle. The family also lost its heart years ago.
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Halloweentown 5 Cast: Who Else Could Return?
No actor has been confirmed for the new movie. The original family included Judith Hoag as Gwen, J. Paul Zimmerman as Dylan and Emily Roeske as Sophie.
Debbie Reynolds played grandmother Aggie in all four films. She died on December 28, 2016, at age 84. The next October, Brown, Zimmerman and Hoag gathered in St. Helens, Oregon, for a tribute to her.
Brown married Daniel Kountz in 2024. He played the villain Kal in Halloweentown II. The couple also reunited for the Hallmark movie Haul Out the Halloween.
Disney will decide who returns, and the streaming numbers give fans reason to hope.
Why Disney Wants Another Halloweentown Movie
The audience never left. According to Disney figures cited by People, the franchise has logged an estimated 160 million hours streamed on Disney+ worldwide. The 1998 original ranked among the 10 most-watched Halloween movies in October 2025.
Disney has done this before. Hocus Pocus got a sequel on Disney+ in 2022. A fifth Halloweentown would join a Halloween lineup that also includes Twitches and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
If you rewatch these movies every October, you are exactly the fan Disney is counting on.
Halloweentown Movies in Order and Where to Watch
All four films stream on Disney+. Here is the release order:
- Halloweentown: October 17, 1998
- Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge: October 12, 2001
- Halloweentown High: October 8, 2004
- Return to Halloweentown: October 20, 2006
Return to Halloweentown is where Paxton takes over as Marnie. Watch it last and you will see why fans keep asking about the casting.
Visit the Real Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon
The first movie was filmed in St. Helens, about 30 miles northwest of Portland. The town’s Spirit of Halloweentown festival runs on weekends through November 1.
Hoag is scheduled to appear on October 24 and 25, according to the festival’s organizers. Zimmerman, Roeske and Phillip Van Dyke were scheduled to appear last weekend.
Can’t make the trip? A Halloweentown movie night at home works just as well while the wait for the fifth film goes on.
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FAQ
When is the Halloweentown 5 release date?
Disney has not set one. TheWrap and People report that the film is in early development for Disney Channel and Disney+. No premiere window, director or cast has been announced.
Is Halloweentown 5 officially confirmed?
The report comes from TheWrap, and People confirmed it. Disney has not publicly announced a date, cast or director yet. Until it does, details can still change.
Will Kimberly J. Brown play Marnie in Halloweentown 5?
That is unknown. Brown has said publicly that she is ready to return, but her role is not confirmed. Sara Paxton played Marnie in the fourth film, and no casting has been announced.
Who is writing Halloweentown 5?
Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are writing it, per TheWrap. Their script builds on characters created by Paul Bernbaum, who wrote the 1998 original.
Where can I watch the earlier Halloweentown movies?
All four films stream on Disney+. They also aired on Disney Channel in October each year.
Where was Halloweentown filmed?
The first movie was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon. The town hosts the Spirit of Halloweentown festival every October.
