Disney is bringing audiences back to Witch Mountain again as Disney+ has announced that the classic franchise is getting a TV re-imagining. The streamer officially gave a pilot order for the series, which will be led by Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World: Dominion). Currently the title Witch Mountainthe pilot will follow a similar plot line to the original films, focusing on two teenagers who develop strange abilities and believe that their idyllic suburb has darker secrets lurking beneath the surface. Isabel Gravitt (The Watcher), Levi Miller (Streamline), Bianca “b” Norwood (We crashed), and Jackson Kelly (Right man) will play alongside Howard.
Howard and Gravitt will play mother-daughter duo Audrey and Tia, respectively. Audrey is described as a devoted and loving mother whose husband died due to mental illness. She works to reassure Tia that she will not follow the same path, but despite her warmth, all is not as it seems with Audrey. Tia is a straight-A student who struggles with a fear of failure and sees herself as flawed. She believes her father’s schizophrenia has been passed on to her, as she encounters terrifying hallucinations where people walk outside of their living bodies. Kelly will star as Tia’s best friend Peter, who is smitten with her despite being unaware of his charm and affection. When Tia tells him about the hallucinations, she realizes that he may be the key to finding answers.
Miller will play Ben, a troubled teenager with a hot temper who is on the verge of deportation. Earning money writing papers for other students, he recently discovered that he can “force others around him to move according to his will” and finds himself drawn to Tia. Norwood will star as Ben’s best friend Corey. They are an outsider and a “mature teenager who comes across as older than they are.” Like Ben, they are also on the verge of deportation and are described as looking “like a My Chemical Romance song turned anime fan”. Ben and Corey are co-workers at the local diner.
The Witch Mountain film franchise first began in 1975 with Escape to Witch Mountainwhich was adapted from the book by Alexander key. It got a sequel a few years later, Back from Witch Mountainand a 1995 remake that starred Elisabeth Moss and Erik von Detten. In 2009, the franchise received a new boost from The race to the witch mountainwhich was led by Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robband Alexander Ludwig.
Witch Mountain‘s pilot is co-written and executive produced by Travis Fickett and Terry Matalaswith Euphoria‘s Augustine Frizzell on board to direct and execute production. John Fox and John Davis from Davis Entertainment and Gary Marsh executive produce. The series comes from Disney Branded Television and will be produced by ABC Signature as part of Disney Television Studios.
The original Witch Mountain movies and The race to the witch mountain now streaming on Disney+. Check out the trailer for Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) below:
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