MOVIE NEWS · DISNEY
Disney is developing a fifth Halloweentown movie
Two writers are working on the script. Returning cast members have not been announced.
Early development · No release date announced
Halloweentown 5 is in early development at Disney Channel and Disney+. TheWrap reported on October 22 that Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn are developing a screenplay based on the characters created by original writer Paul Bernbaum.
Halloweentown 5: what has been reported?
| Project | A fifth Halloweentown movie |
|---|---|
| Status | Early script development |
| Writers | Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn |
| Cast | Not announced |
| Release date | Not announced |
Development should not be confused with the start of production. The report establishes that a script is being worked on; it does not establish a filming schedule or a completed movie. Plot details are still under wraps.
Will Kimberly J. Brown return as Marnie?
Neither Kimberly J. Brown nor Sara Paxton has been confirmed for the new project. Brown played Marnie Piper in the first three movies, before Paxton took over in Return to Halloweentown.
Brown has previously expressed interest in returning, as Us Weekly recalls. That enthusiasm is different from an announced casting agreement. Until a formal lineup arrives, claims that either actor is definitely leading the fifth film would go beyond the available information.
Why the franchise still attracts attention
The previous installment arrived in 2006, leaving a two-decade gap before this development news. Entertainment Weekly reports Disney figures putting the franchise at 160 million hours streamed globally on Disney+.
That total provides context for the interest in revisiting the property, but does not tell us the new film’s budget, tone or production scale. Seasonal familiarity may help an audience reconnect with a title; a continuation still has to establish what story it wants to tell.
The original movie introduced Marnie and her family’s magical heritage in 1998. A fifth entry could reconnect different generations of viewers, but no specific story direction has been announced. The next meaningful updates will be a cast, production details and an actual release plan.
For more seasonal viewing ideas, explore our Halloween movie watchlist. Follow further announcements in KINOLIST Movie News.
Who is writing Halloweentown 5?
Lily Houghton previously worked on the horror comedy Forbidden Fruits, while Ryan Koehn wrote for the Gossip Girl reboot. Variety also reported their involvement. Their credits offer professional background, but do not establish the tone of the new screenplay.
It would be premature to turn those credits into a promise of an adult horror film or a teen soap. A writer can work across very different audiences, and an existing franchise comes with its own characters and expectations. Until a synopsis is released, the useful information is who is developing the project, rather than what kind of story fans might imagine from earlier titles on a résumé.
The four movies before Halloweentown 5
The earlier films gradually widen Marnie’s world: discovering her heritage leads to protecting a magical community, bringing students between worlds and eventually attending university. That history helps explain why a continuation raises questions about both casting and the stage of life at which the story might revisit its characters.
| Movie | Year | Story premise |
|---|---|---|
| Halloweentown | 1998 | Marnie discovers her witch heritage and a hidden magical world. |
| Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge | 2001 | Disappearing magic and a stolen spell book threaten the community. |
| Halloweentown High | 2004 | A school exchange connects the magical and human worlds. |
| Return to Halloweentown | 2006 | Marnie attends Witch University, where a rule forbids magic. |
Disney’s official pages provide the premises of the original, Kalabar’s Revenge and Return to Halloweentown. The table is background to the development news, not a plot announcement for the fifth film.
What Kimberly J. Brown said before the new report
In an interview published by Us Weekly in September 2024, Brown described continued fan requests for another film and said she was open to returning. She also made clear that the decision rested with Disney. The timing matters: that interview predates the current development report and should not be presented as an announcement that she has read or signed on to the new script.
A returning actor can be enthusiastic without a role being agreed. The same distinction applies to the rest of the ensemble. An eventual cast announcement will tell viewers which familiar characters are actually involved; until then, a reunion remains a possibility rather than a confirmed feature of Halloweentown 5.
What would count as the next major update?
A director, an approved production start and an announced cast would each move the story beyond the current writing stage. A release window would then provide something concrete for viewers to plan around. Without those details, a promise that the sequel will arrive by the next Halloween would be speculation.
We will update this report when those milestones are confirmed. For now, the archive image illustrates the earlier franchise, and any discussion of a new generation of witches should be treated as a fan idea unless the filmmakers announce it. There is room for anticipation without presenting an imagined plot as production news.
The distinction also matters when searching for footage: an older scene or a fan-made poster can circulate beside a development headline without becoming an official first look. Readers should check the source and the film being pictured before treating a clip as evidence of filming.
Halloweentown 5: quick questions
Does Halloweentown 5 have a release date?
No release date has been announced.
Is the original cast confirmed?
No. Previous expressions of interest do not confirm a casting decision.
Checked October 26. Sources: TheWrap, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly.
Frequently asked questions
Will Kimberly J. Brown return as Marnie?
Neither Kimberly J. Brown nor Sara Paxton has been confirmed for the new project. Brown played Marnie Piper in the first three movies, before Paxton took over in Return to Halloweentown.
Why the franchise still attracts attention?
The previous installment arrived in 2006, leaving a two-decade gap before this development news. Entertainment Weekly reports Disney figures putting the franchise at 160 million hours streamed globally on Disney+.
Who is writing Halloweentown 5?
Lily Houghton previously worked on the horror comedy Forbidden Fruits, while Ryan Koehn wrote for the Gossip Girl reboot. Variety also reported their involvement. Their credits offer professional background, but do not establish the tone of the new screenplay.