Just in time for Halloween, Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book The Witches is coming to HBO Max.
The new film is written by Zemeckis, Guillermo del Toro and Kenya Barris. It stars Jahzir Bruno as a young boy who, while staying with his grandmother (Octavia Spencer) at a hotel, encounters a conference of witches. The witches, led by the Grand High Witch (Anne Hathaway), hate children, and scheme to turn all kids into mice.
The cast also features Stanley Tucci as the manager of the hotel, and Chris Rock as the voice of the main character’s adult self, relating the story in voiceover.
The film is the second big screen adaptation Dahl’s book has received, the first being the 1990 The Witches directed by Nicolas Roeg. Roeg’s film leaves big shoes to fill, as none other than Jim Henson was a producer, and Anjelica Huston’s turn as the Grand High Witch remains one of the most fabulous screen performances of all time.
Roald Dahl’s The Witches will hit HBO Max on Oct. 22.
