Disney Develops Fifth Halloweentown Film
The production studio is reviving its classic holiday franchise twenty years after the final installment was released.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Horror
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Disney has officially initiated early development on a fifth Halloweentown movie. The new project brings the supernatural franchise back to the screen after a two-decade hiatus.
Why it matters
The revival signals a strategic move by Disney to leverage its existing intellectual property catalog for nostalgic content. Bringing back the series allows the studio to re-engage long-time fans while introducing the established universe to a new generation.
The Halloweentown franchise produced four films between 1998 and 2006, with twenty years passing since the final entry was released. The new movie is now in early development based on original character creations by Paul Bernbaum.
The players
Disney
The American multinational entertainment and mass media conglomerate is responsible for producing the film.
Lily Houghton
She is a screenwriter tasked with writing the script for the new Halloweentown film.
Ryan Koehn
He is a screenwriter currently developing the narrative for the upcoming franchise expansion.
Paul Bernbaum
He is the original creator of the characters and the Halloweentown universe.
The details
Writers Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn have been tasked with developing the script for this fifth installment. The project will continue to build upon the magical universe and characters originally established by creator Paul Bernbaum.
Timeline
The original Halloweentown film premiered in 1998.
Halloweentown II was released in 2001.
Halloweentown High was released in 2004.
Return to Halloweentown was released in 2006.
The fifth film entered early development in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This development highlights the ongoing Hollywood trend of reviving nostalgic IP to capture multi-generational audiences during key holiday windows. It follows the pattern set by the Halloweentown franchise, which remains a benchmark for seasonal direct-to-cable film success.
Fans should anticipate potential streaming availability on Disney platforms given the studio's control over the franchise rights. Production updates will likely dictate the timeline for when viewers can expect the film to arrive in their home media libraries.
The takeaway
Nostalgia remains a powerful driver for studio production decisions as legacy media brands look to maximize their existing library assets. Viewers interested in the series can revisit the original films to prepare for the upcoming franchise expansion.
Further reading
For more background on genre trends, see our coverage of Horror.
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