Bryce Dallas Howard is set to star in a new Disney Plus series adaptation of the 1970s classicEscape to Witch Mountain.
Escape to Witch Mountain, adapted from the 1968 novel of the same name by Alexander Key, was a hit for Disney when it was released in 1975. Chronicling the story of two orphans with telekinetic abilities who must escape a millionaire who wishes to control them, the film spawned two sequels, 1978’sReturn from Witch Mountainand 1982’sBeyond Witch Mountain. In 1995, Disney remadeEscape to Witch Mountainas a television movie forThe Wonderful World of Disney.Another adapted and retooled version of the original,Race to Witch Mountain,was released in 2009, starringDwayne Johnson in the lead role.
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According toVariety, Disney Plus has ordered a pilot for a Witch Mountain series starring Dallas Howard(Jurassic Worldtrilogy) that is reportedly set to revive the premise of two teens gifted with strange abilities. TheDisney Plusseries adaptation will also star Isabel Gravitt (The Watcher), Levi Miller (Streamline), Bianca “b” Norwood (WeCrashed), and Jackson Kelly (Straight Man). The pilot of the newEscape to Witch Mountainseries, directed by Augustine Frizzell, was written by Travis Fickett and Terry Matalas, who will also executive produce along with Davis Entertainment and Gary Marsh.
While details on theWitch Mountainseries are unavailable, the revival bodes well for this vintage piece of Disney entertainment, particularly since its subject matter and plot are easily updated for new fans and audiences. The original, for older fans, is considered aclassic bit of early Disney horror, meaning that nostalgia will no doubt drive interest in the new series. TheWitch Mountaintrilogy is often compared to another early ’80s classic,Watcher in the Woods, which recently got a remake by Lifetime Television in 2017.
Dallas Howard has been a fan favorite since her early roles inThe VillageandLady in the Water, as well as her fame asone of the newestStar Warsfranchise directors, which means a stellar performance in this promising new adaptation alongside a younger cast. In addition, theWitch Mountainseries will no doubt offer a greater range of imaginative storytelling for Disney, making this one to watch among the slew of recent Disney remakes and reboots on the very successful streaming service.
TheWitch Mountainfilms are available onDisney Plus.
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