Disney develops fifth Halloweentown film

Disney is developing a fifth Halloweentown film, with writers Lily Houghton and Ryan Koehn working on a script, according to a report published October 22. The project is in early development for Disney and Disney Channel; no production approval or release date was reported. The script is based on characters created by Paul Bernbaum for the original 1998 film. The new project would be the franchise’s first film since Return to Halloweentown, which was released in 2006. The relationship between the new film and the earlier story has not been determined, and plot details have not been disclosed. It is also not known whether any former cast members will return. Kimberly J. Brown played Marnie Piper in the first three films, while Sara Paxton took over the role in Return to Halloweentown. The report did not establish whether either actor, or other original cast members, would appear in the fifth film. The franchise began with Halloweentown, which premiered on Disney Channel in 1998. It follows Marnie as she discovers her family’s magical heritage and visits a town inhabited by supernatural beings. The series continued with Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge in 2001, Halloweentown...