Halloweentown 5 Is Officially Brewing, but Marnie’s Return Is Still Unconfirmed

Disney is officially bringing Halloweentown back. Halloweentown 5 is in early development for Disney Channel and Disney+, nearly 20 years after Return to Halloweentown premiered in 2006.

What changed, and who it affects

The big update is simple: a fifth Halloweentown movie is now in the works at Disney. For viewers who grew up with the Disney Channel Original Movie series, that means the franchise is no longer just a fan wish. It is officially back in development.

As of October 23, 2026, Disney has not announced a release date or confirmed any cast members. The project is being developed for Disney Channel and Disney+, so the news directly affects fans who have been waiting to see whether the Cromwell family story would continue on Disney platforms.

The timing stands out too. Return to Halloweentown arrived in 2006, making this revival a return to the series about 20 years after the last film. The original movie debuted in 1998, which puts the franchise’s comeback nearly three decades after it first premiered.

The biggest mystery is whether Kimberly J. Brown will return

The question many fans are likely to focus on is Marnie Piper. Kimberly J. Brown played Marnie in the first three Halloweentown movies, before Sara Paxton took over the role in the fourth film, Return to Halloweentown.

Brown’s involvement in Halloweentown 5 has not been confirmed. Still, she has publicly said she would be open to another installment. In a September 2024 interview, she said fans regularly asked her about a fifth movie and indicated that other cast members were also interested in returning, while noting that the decision rested with Disney.

The original cast also included Judith Hoag as Gwen Cromwell Piper, Joey Zimmerman as Dylan Piper, and Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell.

Behind the scenes, the screenplay is being developed by Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn. The film will use characters originally created by Paul Bernbaum, who wrote the 1998 movie. Houghton previously worked on the 2026 horror comedy Forbidden Fruits, and Koehn was a writer on the Gossip Girl reboot.

For now, the confirmed change is the project itself: Halloweentown 5 is happening. The cast list, including whether Brown returns as Marnie, is still to come.