The Premise
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of New Orleans, Coven Academy follows a trio of teenage witches-in-training. Bound by destiny, they must protect their city from ancient dark forces while mastering volatile magic. The series balances supernatural intrigue with the universal challenges of adolescence, including friendship dynamics, romance, and self-discovery.
Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television, described the project as an innovative format that blends supernatural elements with the friendships and challenges of the teenage experience.
The Format: Designed for Modern Viewing
The defining feature of Coven Academy is its structure. In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter in February 2026, Craig Erwich, President of Disney Television Group, revealed that the series was engineered specifically for the way young audiences consume content today.
Episodes will run approximately 15 minutes each. Erwich explained that the team designed these episodes to be viewed in 15-minute bursts, acknowledging how people are watching content in 2026. The visual language is optimized not just for television screens, but specifically for mobile devices.
Erwich emphasized the pacing, noting that the series has a propulsive beat. He stated that it is not just the subject matter, but the form of storytelling, that feels really relevant. This approach aligns with Disney's broader experimentation with vertical video and short-form content, such as the Locker Diaries series, signaling a shift toward adapting legacy IP and new projects for TikTok-era attention spans.
The form has to continue to evolve to be relevant, Erwich noted.
Cast and Creative Team
The series is created and showrun by Tim Federle, known for his work on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Federle also wrote and directed the pilot.
The confirmed cast includes:
Malina Pauli Weissman as Briar
Tiffani Thiessen as Miss Graves
Malachi Barton as Jake
Louis Thresher as Ollie
Jordan Leftwich as Sasha
Ora Duplass as Tegan
Devon Sawa as Mr. Cole (guest role) Don't miss any news - subscribe to our Facebook
