Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of Road Dahl’s The Witches was supposed to be one of Hollywood’s autumn tentpoles but, obviously, things are changing and now it’s headed to HBOMax. That’s appropriate enough, since change is a big part of this children’s classic, which features a group of kids who’ve been turned into mice, out to get the witches responsible to change them back.
The book has been updated a little, transporting the adventures of Britain to 1960s Alabama. Our hero is played by Jahzir Kadeem Bruno, who moves in with grandmother (Octavia Spencer) and gets caught up in a battle against a coven of high society witches who are out to turn all the town kids into mice. Stanley Tucci and Kristin Chenoweth are here too, as is Chris Rock as the narrator.
The Witches will debut on HBO Max on October 22 — the tail end of spooky season.
