‘Halloweentown 5’ is happening: Will the original cast return?

Disney is bringing back its beloved Halloween movie franchise nearly 20 years after the last film. Here's everything we know about Halloweentown 5, including the potential cast, release date, and Kimberly J. Brown's possible return

OCTOBER 23, 2026 1:40 PM EDTOCT 23, 2026, 1:40 PM EDT

Halloween just got a little more magical! Disney is developing Halloweentown 5, bringing one of its most nostalgic Halloween movie franchises back into the spotlight nearly three decades after the original film premiered.

According to an October 22, 2026, exclusive report from TheWrap, a fifth installment of the popular Disney Channel Original Movie franchise is officially in early development for Disney Channel and Disney+.

Disney is bringing back its beloved Halloween movie franchise nearly 20 years after the last film.

The announcement comes 20 years after Return to Halloweentown premiered in 2006, leaving longtime fans wondering whether their favorite witches will finally return.

Is Halloweentown 5 Really Happening?

Yes! A fifth Halloweentown movie is officially in early development at Disney. Writers Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are developing the screenplay, which will feature characters originally created by Paul Bernbaum, the writer behind the 1998 movie.

Houghton previously worked on the 2026 horror comedy Forbidden Fruits, while Koehn was a writer on the Gossip Girl reboot.

The writing duo could bring a fresh perspective to the magical franchise while maintaining the family-friendly Halloween charm that made the original movies so popular.

Will Kimberly J. Brown Return as Marnie Piper in Halloweentown 5?

For many fans, Halloweentown simply wouldn't feel the same without Kimberly J. Brown. Brown starred as Marnie Piper in the franchise's first three films, portraying a teenager who discovers that she belongs to a powerful family of witches.

Her character quickly became one of Disney Channel's most recognizable Halloween heroines. Although Brown was replaced by Sara Paxton in the fourth installment, Return to Halloweentown, she has repeatedly expressed interest in returning to the franchise.

Here's everything we know about Halloweentown 5, including the potential cast, release date, and Kimberly J. Brown's possible return.

In a September 2024 interview with Us Weekly, Brown confirmed that she was open to another installment and said fans regularly asked her about a fifth movie.

She also indicated that other cast members were interested in returning, although the decision ultimately rested with Disney. As of October 23, 2026, Brown's involvement has not been confirmed.

The original cast included Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie Piper, Judith Hoag as Gwen Cromwell Piper, Joey Zimmerman as Dylan Piper, and the late Debbie Reynolds as the unforgettable Aggie Cromwell.