Octavia Spencer joins Zemeckis’ The Witches, Kenya Barris to co-write

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

As Robert Zemeckis continues to add ingredients to his cauldron for an adaptation of Roald Dahl's THE WITCHES, we've gotten word that Octavia Spencer is set to cast a spell as a member of the film's diabolical cast. Now that she's set to conjure all manners of toil and trouble for the Zemeckis-directed fantasy feature, THE SHAPE OF WATER and HIDDEN FIGURES alumna will join THE HUSTLE and MODERN LOVE actor Anne Hathaway and Codei-Lei Eatick (HOLMES & WATSON) for what is sure to be a dark and mysterious time at the cinema.

Back in 1990, Dahl's The Witches was adapted for the big screen by DON'T LOOK NOW and THE MAD WHO FELL TO EARTH director Nicolas Roeg. In the film, a young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse. Starring Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch, THE WITCHES is considered by many to be a flawless fantasy classic that stands proudly alongside other cinematic gems, such as THE NEVERENDING STORY, LABYRINTH, THE DARK CRYSTAL, and RETURN TO OZ.

In addition to Spencer's casting, it's also been announced that BLACK-ISH creator Kenya Barris has signed onto the highly-anticipated project to co-write the script alongside Zemeckis. Meanwhile, ROMA helmer Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, and Zemeckis will produce.

Up next for Spencer is her role as Sue Ann for Tate Taylor's MA, a Blumhouse-branded psychological horror-thriller that tells of a lonely woman who befriends a group of teenagers and decides to let them party at her house. Just when the kids think their luck couldn't get any better, things start happening that make them question the intention of their host. Missi Pyle, Luke Evans, Juliette Lewis, and Allison Janey are also set to star.